Classified employees are employees who are not administrators or employees in positions which require a teaching license issued by the Iowa Bureau of Educational Examiners and who are employed to fulfill the duties listed on their job description on a monthly or hourly basis. Classified employees will include, but not be limited to, teacher and classroom aides, custodial and maintenance employees, clerical employees, food service employees, bus drivers, and temporary help for summer or other maintenance. The position may be full-time or part-time.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to establish job specifications and job descriptions for classified employee positions. Job descriptions may be approved by the board.

Classified employees required to hold a license for their position must present evidence of their current license to the board secretary prior to payment of wages each year.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.8.

I.C. Iowa Code                        Description
Iowa Code § 20           Collective Bargaining
Iowa Code § 279.8       Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Cross References:  405.01  Licensed Employee Defined
                                         411.02  Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
                                         412.03  Classified Employee Group Insurance Benefits (I, II)

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025

Persons interested in a classified employee position will have an opportunity to apply and qualify for classified employee positions in the school district in accordance with applicable laws and school district policies regarding equal employment. Job applicants for classified employee positions will be considered on the basis of the following:

• Training, experience, and skill;
• Nature of the occupation;
• Demonstrated competence; and
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, state or other license or certificate, if required, for the position.

All job openings shall be submitted to the Iowa Department of Education for posting on TeachIowa.gov, the online state job posting system. Additional announcements of the position may occur through means the superintendent believes will inform potential applicants about the position. Whenever possible, the preliminary screening of applicants will be conducted by the administrator who directly supervises and oversees the position.

The superintendent will recommend employment of classified employees to the board for approval.

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634.
                                      42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e; 12101 et seq.
                                      Iowa Code §§ 20; 35C; 216; 256.27; 279.8; 279.20
                                      281 I.A.C. 12

I.C. Iowa Code                                      Description
Iowa Code § 20                                     Collective Bargaining
Iowa Code § 216                                   Civil Rights Commission
Iowa Code § 256.27                              DE - Online State Job Posting System
Iowa Code § 279.13                              Directors - Powers and Duties - Contracts with Teachers
Iowa Code § 35C                                  Veterans Preference
Iowa Code § 279.20                              Superintendent - Term

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code           Description
281 I.A.C. 12                                        General Accreditation Standards

U.S.C. - United States Code                   Description
29 U.S.C. §§ 621                                   Labor - Age Discrimination
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101                                Public Health - Equal Opportunity - Disabilities
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e                                Public Health - EEO Civil Rights - Definitions

Cross References:  401.01  Equal Employment Opportunity
                                         401.03  Nepotism
                                         401.06  Limitations to Employment References
                                         410.04  Education Associate
                                         411.01  Classified Employee Defined
                                         411.04  Classified Employee Licensing/Certification
                                         411.06  Classified Employee Transfers
                                         411.07  Classified Employee Evaluation

Approved: 3/21/2016, 2/20/2017, 8/16/2021, 10/21/2024, 9/15/2025
Reviewed: 8/15/2025
Revised: 8/15/2025

The board may enter into written contracts with classified employees employed on a regular basis. The contract will state the terms of employment.

Each contract will include a 14 day cancellation clause. Either the employee or the board must give notice of the intent to cancel the contract at the end of 14 days. This notice will not be required when the employee is terminated during a probationary period or for cause.

Classified employees will receive a job description stating the specific performance responsibilities of their position.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to draw up and process the classified employee contracts and present them to the board for approval.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.7A; 285.5(9).

I.C. Iowa Code              Description
Iowa Code § 20             Collective Bargaining
Iowa Code § 279.7A      Directors - Powers and Duties - Public Contracts/Exceptions
Iowa Code § 285.5        Transportation Aid - Contracts

Cross References:  411.08  Classified Employee Probationary Status
                                         412.01  Classified Employee Compensation
                                         412.02  Classified Employee Wage and Overtime Compensation

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025

Classified employees who require a special license or other certification will keep them current at their own expense. Licensing requirements needed for a position will be considered met if the employee meets the requirements established by law for the position.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 285.5(9); 256; 279.8.
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.4(10); 36; 43.

I.C. Iowa Code                                      Description
Iowa Code § 279.8                                Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees
Iowa Code § 285.5                                Transportation Aid - Contracts
Iowa code § 256                                    Dept. of Education

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code           Description
281 I.A.C 43                                         Transportation
281 I.A.C. 12.4                                     School Personnel
281 I.A.C. 36                                        Extracurricular Interscholastic Competition

Cross References:  411.02  Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025

Determining the assignment of each classified employee is the responsibility of the superintendent and within the sole discretion of the board. In making such assignments each year the superintendent will consider the qualifications of each classified employee and the needs of the school district.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to assign classified employees and report such assignments to the board.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.8.

I.C. Iowa Code              Description
Iowa Code § 20             Collective Bargaining
Iowa Code § 279.8        Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Cross References:  200.02  Powers of the Board of Directors
                                         411.06  Classified Employee Transfers

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025

Determining the location where a classified employee's assignment will be performed is the responsibility of the superintendent and within the sole discretion of the board. In making such assignments each year the superintendent will consider the qualifications of each classified employee and the needs of the school district.

A transfer may be initiated by the employee, the principal or the superintendent.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to transfer classified employees and report such transfers to the board

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634.
                                      42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq.
                                      42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.
                                      Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 35C; 216; 279.8; 294.1.

I.C. Iowa Code                          Description
Iowa Code § 20.9                       Collective Bargaining - Scope of Negotiations
Iowa Code § 216                       Civil RIghts Commission
Iowa Code § 279.8                    Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees
Iowa Code § 294.1                    Teachers - Qualifications
Iowa Code § 35C                      Veterans Preference

U.S.C. - United States Code       Description
29 U.S.C. §§ 621                       Labor - Age Discrimination
42 U.S.C. § 12101                     Public Health - Equal Opportunity - Disabilities
42 U.S.C. § 2000e                     Public Health - EEO Civil Rights - Definitions

Cross References:  411.02  Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
                                         411.05  Classified Employee Assignment  

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025

Evaluation of classified employees on their skills, abilities, and competence is an ongoing process supervised by the superintendent. The goal of the formal evaluation of classified employees is to maintain classified employees who meet or exceed the board's standards of performance, to clarify each classified employee's role, to ascertain the areas in need of improvement, to clarify the immediate priorities of the board, and to develop a working relationship between the administrators and other employees.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure classified employees are formally evaluated annually. New and probationary classified employees are formally evaluated at least twice a year.  

Legal Reference:  Aplington Community School District v. PERB, 392 N.W.2d 495 (Iowa 1986).
                                      Saydel Education Association v. PERB, 333 N.W.2d 486 (Iowa 1983).
                                      Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 279.14.
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.3(3).

I.C. Iowa Code                                      Description
Iowa Code § 20.9                                  Collective Bargaining - Scope of Negotiations
Iowa Code §279.14                               Evaluation Criteria and Procedures

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code           Description
281 I.A.C. 12.3                                     Administration

Case Law                                             Description
Aplington CSD v. PERB                       392 N.W.2d 495 (Iowa 1986)
Saydel Ed. Assoc. v. PERB                    333 N.W.2d 486 (Iowa 1983)

Cross References:  411.02  Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
                                         411.08  Classified Employee Probationary Status

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025

The first 90 of a newly employed classified employee's contract is a probationary period. "Day" is defined as one work day regardless of full-time or part-time status of the employee. New employees, regardless of experience, are subject to this probationary period.

"New" employees include individuals who are being hired for the first time by the school district and those who may have been employed by the school district in the past, but have not been employed by the board during the school year prior to the one for which contracts are being issued.

Only the board, in its discretion, may waive the probationary period.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.8.

I.C. Iowa Code              Description
Iowa Code § 20             Collective Bargaining
Iowa Code § 279.8        Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Cross References:  411.03  Classified Employee Contracts
                                         411.07  Classified Employee Evaluation

Approved: 3/21/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 7/1/2025
Revised: 7/1/2025