Policy DAD- Scope of Employment

Issue Date: May 16, 2012

Scope of Employment

Employees of the District act within the scope of their employment only when acting to discharge duties for which they have been hired by the District or act under the direction of the Board, the Superintendent, or the school Principal in the school where that employee works. The following guidelines govern the scope of an employee’s duties:

Student Interaction

The employees of the District should provide instruction, counseling, and administrative tasks relating to students that require the presence of students on school premises only within the regularly scheduled time of activities.

Meeting Outside of School Day

Written approval of the Principal in the school where the employee works is required whenever it becomes necessary for a District employee to meet with a student(s) outside the regular school day or outside of the school premises. School sponsored activities, such as student performances and athletic events, as well as related practices, involving the school’s athletic teams, clubs, or organizations that require an employee to meet with students outside of the regular school day do not require written approval of the Principal. District employees shall supervise students appropriately at school and school-related activities.

After-hour activities involving students are to be held at the school whenever possible. If another location is necessary, prior written approval from the School Principal is required.

Meeting with Individual Students

A District employee is not authorized to meet alone with an individual student unless it is necessary in the performance of professional duties during school hours on school premises, i.e., counseling, disciplining, instructing, and administrative tasks.

Class Attendance

All teachers shall be present in the classroom at any time when students are present in the classroom. A justification exists for leaving students unattended in a classroom only in cases of emergency. such as injury to a student requiring immediate attention, threat to health or safety of a student, or personal emergency of the teacher. Any other absences from the classroom must be expressly approved by the School Principal.

Provision of Transportation

Except as otherwise specifically provided for by District policy, no employee, except an authorized bus driver, has authority to provide transportation for any student or other employee unless express written authorization is given by the Principal. All transportation not authorized is outside the scope of employment.

Conflicting Employment

No employee of the District shall obtain or maintain any other employment that may or does interfere with or substantially impede the discharge of the employee’s duties with the District.

Media Contacts

All District employees shall coordinate with the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee all materials prepared for publication regarding District matters. Where possible, all employees shall consult with the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee prior to providing any statements regarding District matters to any member of the media.