In the Good Old Summertime
I know we just started spring but the issue of what you’ll be doing in the summer (if you are a year-round employee) and when you’ll be doing it, is right around the corner. And employees who don’t work all year need to be sure they know what their assignments are for next year.
In many cases, maintenance and custodial employees, along with office personnel and some paraprofessionals, have work to do that will last either all summer or part of the summer.
If you fall into any of those classifications, make sure you know if you can count on summer work or if you should be thinking about a loan to pay bills or if you should be planning a vacation. Think about these guidelines:
- Look in your contract for sections dealing with assignments, vacation, and the school year schedule for support staff. Talk to your representative and/or the association president if you have any questions.
- Continue to keep track of your hours so that you know whether you’re even entitled to any summer assignment.
- You should end the school year with a pretty firm idea of what your assignment will be next year.
- Find out what you have to do to make sure you will get paid or your insurance will continue.
- If you’ve received an evaluation, make sure it is in your personnel file. Schedule an appointment or make whatever arrangements are necessary to see your file. If something is missing or has been added without your knowledge, contact the association.
- If your association is bargaining, make sure you are kept informed about any issues that may affect your work.
- If you’re doing a job during the summer that is different from your regular assignment or you’ll have a new assignment next year, find out the details—Do you need any special training? Do you need any special equipment? What are the hours?