- 8.30—CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL REDUCTION IN FORCE

####### SECTION ONE

The School Board acknowledges its authority to conduct a reduction in force (RIF) when a decrease in enrollment or other reason(s) make such a reduction necessary or desirable. A RIF will be conducted when the need for a reduction in the work force exceeds the normal rate of attrition for that portion of the staff that is in excess of the needs of the district as determined by the superintendent.

In effecting a reduction in force, the primary goals of the school district shall be: what is in the best interests of the students; to maintain accreditation in compliance with the Standards of Accreditation for Arkansas Public Schools and/or the North Central Association; and the needs of the district. A reduction in force will be implemented when the superintendent determines it is advisable to do so and shall be effected through non-renewal, termination, or both. Any reduction in force will be conducted by evaluating the needs and long- and short-term goals of the school district in relation to the staffing of the district.

If a reduction in force becomes necessary, the RIF shall be conducted separately for each occupational category of classified personnel identified within the district on the basis of each employee’s years of service. The employee within each occupational category with the least years of experience will be non-renewed first. The employee with the most years of employment in the district as compared to other employees in the same category shall be non-renewed last. In the event that employees within a given occupational category have the same length of service to the district the one with the earlier hire date, based on date of board action, will prevail.

When the District is conducting a RIF, all potentially affected classified employees shall receive a listing of the personnel within their category with corresponding totals of years of service. Upon receipt of the list, each employee has ten (10) working days within which to appeal his or her total years of service to the superintendent whose decision shall be final. Except for changes made pursuant to the appeals process, no changes will be made to the list that would affect an employee’s total after the list is released.

Total years of service to the district shall include non-continuous years of service; in other words, an employee who left the district and returned later will have the total years of service counted, from all periods of employment. Working fewer than 160 days in a school year shall not constitute a year. Length of service in a licensed position shall not count for the purpose of length of service for a classified position. There is no right or implied right for any employee to “bump” or displace any other employee. This specifically does not allow a licensed employee who might wish to assume a classified position to displace a classified employee.

Pursuant to any reduction in force brought about by consolidation or annexation and as a part of it, the salaries of all employees will be brought into compliance, by a partial RIF if necessary, with the receiving district’s salary schedule. Further adjustments will be made if length of change.1 contract or job assignments A Partial RIF may also be conducted in conjunction with any job reassignment whether or not it is conducted in relation to an annexation or consolidation.

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