Message from Joplin Administration- If you give a job reference, you may end up needing one yourself

Any Joplin R-8 employees who might want to consider providing a job reference for me would be doing so at their own peril. (And all of you who are still working for the school district, you can breathe easily, I do not plan on asking any of you for references.)

The following e-mail, a copy of which was provided to The Turner Report today, shows that the district is sending out the message that any of those who leave the district, whether it be the public way I was shown the door, the brutal, but effective way many of my colleagues have been fired or convinced to leave under duress, or as one of the many who are leaving the district of their own volition, had better not receive any recommendations or references from anyone, but one of the chosen few who have been wreaking havoc on the district for the past few years.

The message was also delivered in a more direct way that was not put on the district e-mail, teachers have told me. The message they received- You recommend somebody for a job in another school district, you might as well start looking for another job yourself.

The e-mail is printed below:


From: Tina Smith <tinasmith@joplinschools.org>
Date: Thu, May 30, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Subject: {DistrictChat} Reminder: Policy GBLB References
To: districtchat@joplinschools.org


Date:     May 30, 2013

To:         Employees of Joplin Schools

Re:         Reminder of Policy GBLB References

Joplin Schools' Policy GBLB addresses how requests for references are responded to.  Please note that only supervisors are permitted under the policy to provide reference information for current or former employees.  An individual may provide a personal reference, but in doing so they are acting outside the scope of their employment (see highlighted information below).  Those who are in supervisory roles have been provided specific administrative  procedures for providing reference information. 

If you have any questions regarding this policy please contact the Human Resource department.

FILE:  GBLB

CRITICAL

REFERENCES

Definitions

Employee – Any staff member or student teacher of the Joplin Schools.

Former Employee – An employee who was terminated or resigned or whose contract was nonrenewed; an employee who has been notified that his or her contract with the district will not be renewed or that the district is pursuing termination, even if the process has not been completed.

Potential Employer – Another school district, business or person seeking to hire a current or former employee or screening the current or former employee for a volunteer position, internship or other activity.

Reference – Information regarding the employment of, or services provided by, a current or former employee including, but not limited to, specific information regarding dates of employment or service, salary, job duties, performance or character.

 Sexual Misconduct – Engaging in any conduct with a student, on or off district property, that constitutes the crime of sexual misconduct; illegal sexual harassment as defined in policy AC, as determined by the district; or child abuse involving sexual behavior, as determined by the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services.

General

The district will maintain information regarding current and former employees as confidential within the limits of the law. Only the superintendent or a person or persons specifically designated by the superintendent may respond on behalf of the district to a reference request for a current or former employee. District employees must direct reference requests to the superintendent or designee. Upon request, employees will assist the superintendent or designee with the preparation of accurate reference information.

Employees other than the superintendent or designee may provide personal references at the request of a current or former employee, but by doing so, they are acting outside of the scope of their employment. Employees may not use district letterhead or otherwise indicate that the reference is sponsored by the district. The district will not endorse any reference provided outside the directives of this policy and is not responsible for providing legal advice or protection for unauthorized employees who provide references.

Content

In accordance with law, the following information about employees will be provided to any member of the public upon request:

1.         Names

2.         Positions

3.         Salary

4.         Length of service

Unless otherwise required under this policy or by law, before providing a reference for a current or former employee, the superintendent or designee will verify that the employee consents to the release of further information. The district may obtain a blanket consent from the employee upon employment or when the employee leaves the district.

 Unless otherwise authorized by the Board or the district's attorney, the superintendent or designee may only provide the following factual information when requested, without offering opinions or commentary on job performance:

 1.         A description of the employee's job duties when employed.

2.         Additional district-sponsored committees, activities or duties the employee volunteered for or was designated to perform.

3.         Honors and awards received by the employee.

4.         Documented, factual information on work performance.

5.         Any district-approved written review of performance or reference letter.

 6.         Whether the employee resigned or was nonrenewed or terminated. Based on documentation in the personnel file, potential employers will be notified if the employment was ended due to the financial condition of the district, a decrease in enrollment or reorganization of the department, school or district.

7.         When requested, a "yes" or "no" answer to a question about whether the district would re-employ the current or former employee if an appropriate position existed or whether the superintendent would recommend re-employment.

8.         Allegations of sexual misconduct with a student as required below.

Disclosing Allegations of Sexual Misconduct to Other Public Schools

If a potential public school employer requests a reference regarding a former employee whose job involved contact with children, the district will, in accordance with state law, notify the potential public school employer if the employee was terminated, nonrenewed or allowed to resign in lieu of termination as a result of allegations of sexual misconduct with a student or as a result of such allegations being substantiated by the CD’s child abuse and neglect review board.

If a potential public school employer contacts the district for a reference for any former employee about whom the CD has investigated allegations of sexual misconduct with a student and reached a finding of substantiated, the district will provide the results of the CD investigation to the potential public school employer, regardless of whether the employee's job involved contact with children.

The district must provide these notifications regardless of whether the former employee has authorized the release of information. The district will provide due process as required by law prior to releasing information in accordance with this section, if feasible. The superintendent or designee is authorized to contact the district's attorney for advice on implementing this policy in accordance with law.

Recordkeeping

When the district is contacted for a reference for a current or former employee, the superintendent or designee will document the date, the name of the person and entity requesting the information, the person responding to the request, the method of disclosure, the information provided and, when applicable, the consent received.

In accordance with law, if the district responds to any requests by letter, the district will forward a copy of the reference letter to the current or former employee at the employee's last known address.

Notice

The district will notify all current employees of this policy. The superintendent or designee will provide notification of the existence of this policy to all potential employers who contact the district for a reference. The notification must also include a statement that the district's responses are limited to the scope of this policy. The district will also provide copies of the policy to former employees upon request.

Immunity

Any district employee who is permitted under this policy to respond to requests for references regarding former employees and who communicates only the information authorized by this policy in good faith and without malice is entitled to immunity against any civil action for damages brought by the former employee arising out of the communication of such information, in accordance with law. District employees responding to requests for references in accordance with this policy may request the attorney general to defend them if sued.

Tina M. Smith

Director of Human Resources

Joplin Schools

3901 E. 32nd Street

Joplin, MO  64804

(417) 625-5200