School District HR Head Has Full Calendar
The Challenges that face an HR Professional!
By Monica Tikkanen
People ask me what do. I say I am the HR Director for the School District of Superior. The next question is, “Oh, you must have the summer off. You don’t work in the summer, do you?” Most people think that if teachers don’t work in the summer then other departments must take a break too.
In reality, summer is one of our busier seasons. With the change in State law (Act 10), teachers have until June 15th to return their contract. Prior to Act 10, we were able to forecast resignations by April 15th, getting a head start on cruitment and hiring. Now that work is delayed by at least two to three months, pushing the bulk of the work into summer.
“Now that work is delayed by at least two to three months, pushing the bulk of the work into summer.”
Human Resources handles all the hiring, retirements, resignations, posting for transfers, and terminations for a staff that numbers about 1,000. Hiring a person is an involved process that can take up to a month or more from the first notice of resignation to replacement.
Some jobs are hard to replace. You may see the large signs all over the District that currently announce the need for “Bus Drivers Needed.” With the economy improving, people are looking for year-round, full-time work. Although bus drivers can work full-time in the school year, the job is not 12 months.
People have more job opportunities and are more mobile, often relocating to other cities. The District often is looking for specialized teaching areas such as Speech Language Pathologists, Special Education staff, Tech Ed, Math or Science.
“The District often is looking for specialized teaching areas such as Speech Language Pathologists, Special Education staff, Tech Ed, Math or Science.”
Employment opportunities are listed on the District’s website and other internet sites or colleges when it’s appropriate. A “job” starts with a posting which is an announcement that describes the job description, the rate of pay, and how to apply for the job. Applicants apply for all jobs through the District website service called School Stream. Follow this link to see current opportunities or to apply for employment with the District.
Hiring Managers can review the electronic application materials to select applicants for interview. An interview team is assembled, applicants are called to interview, sometimes pre-tests are taken, and once the recommendation for hire comes out of the interview process, HR makes the preliminary offer of employment. And then it’s off to the pre-employment physical, back ground check, and regular employment paperwork. Once cleared, employees become oriented with their Administrative leaders and work sites.
Orientation for newly hired teachers takes place in August for one full week of training conducted by the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department. This coming school year, the District will welcome at least 25 teachers. Other new staff will be new administrator for the Pre-Kindergarten services, new secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, special education assistants, teacher assistants, library assistants, physical therapy assistant, food service, and school assistants. I predict we will be creating at least 60 or more new employee ID badges. We continue to look for substitute teachers too.
“This coming school year, the District will welcome at least 25 teachers.”
Yes, summer is a busy time. Getting ready for the 2015-16 school year while we end one year, hire staff for summer school, hire new staff for the next school year, and handle the hiring process for each individual takes time. Summer goes by so fast, we can already hear the first school bell ring on September 1st.
“In the summer …our teachers are busy going to school, taking on-line courses, creating lesson plans, (and) …to incorporate technology into their lessons.”
And teachers do work in the summer—in case you were wondering about that. Our teachers are busy going to school, taking on-line courses, creating lesson plans, learning how to incorporate technology into their lessons, and working with the new teachers that we hire.
Yes, “School” is on break in the summer, but lots of work goes on behind the scenes!
