Original Adopted Date: 5-12-97                                          Last Revised Date: 1-22-24                                        Last Reviewed Date: 1-08-24

Persons interested in a licensed position, other than administrative positions which will be employed in accordance with board policies in Series 300, "Administration," will have an opportunity to apply and qualify for licensed positions in the school district in accordance with applicable laws and school district policies regarding equal employment.  Job applicants for licensed positions shall be considered on the basis of the following:

                        1.         Training, experience, and skill;

                        2.         Nature of the occupation;

                        3.         Demonstrated competence; and

                        4.         Possession of, or ability to obtain, state license if required for the position.                             

All job openings shall be submitted to the Iowa Department of Education for posting on IowaWorks, the online state job posting system.  Additional announcements of the position may occur in a manner which the superintendent believes will inform potential applicants about the position.  Throughout the recruitment and selection processes, reasonable and real efforts will be made to increase the diversity of the district’s licensed employees. Whenever possible, the preliminary screening of applicants will be conducted by the administrator who will be directly supervising and overseeing the person being hired.  Past Mid-Prairie Graduates properly licensed, or having the ability to become properly licensed, and qualified for the open position will be guaranteed an interview for the appropriate open position.  However, this shall not be construed to mean that the Mid-Prairie Graduate is guaranteed employment.

The board will employ licensed employees after receiving a recommendation from the superintendent.  However, the superintendent will have the authority to employ a licensed employee on a temporary basis until a recommendation can be made and action can be taken by the board on the position.

Annually, the board may set a sign-on bonus for new teachers hired to start in the fall.  The board shall determine the teacher classifications entitled to the sign-on bonus and the amount of the bonus.  If the bonus is awarded, half of the bonus shall be paid on September 25 of the teacher’s first year and the second half of the bonus shall be paid on September 25 of the teacher’s second year if the employee is still employed by the district.

Legal Reference:        29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634

                                    42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, 12101 et seq.

                                    Iowa Code §§ 20; 35C; 216; 279.13

                                    281 I.A.C. 12.

                                    282 I.A.C. 14.

                                    1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 367.

Cross Reference:        401.1    Equal Employment Opportunity

                                    405       Licensed Employees - General

                                    410.1    Substitute Teachers