Staff Expectations During School Closures

We want to remind you of employee expectations when schools are delayed or closed, and how we communicate these changes. 

Communicating School Delays/Closures 

Here is how we will communicate school schedule changes:

• All-Staff Message: Check your work email for an all-staff message. 
• Automated Phone Calls & Text Messages: We use your contact information in Employee Online for early notifications to staff. Please make sure this information is up to date. 
• Website Announcements: Bookmark the district's website (www.highlineschools.org).
• Social Media Posts: Follow us on Facebook at @highlineschools.
• Local TV/Radio Announcements.

Employee Expectations 

If Central Office is closed, staff should remain at home. If buildings are closed, the activities for user groups are also cancelled (including weekend use).

*Decisions made by district/department administrator may alter this schedule.

The following procedures apply for represented classified staff who report for work:

1. Teamster I: Collective Bargaining Language Section 5.9:  In the event the Superintendent or designee closes the Administration Offices, members of the Bargaining Unit shall be offered alternative workdays to make up for the lost shift(s) or at the employee's option, the opportunity to utilize vacation hours or personal leave to make up for the non-work, non-paid hours. At the discretion of the Chief of Security Services or designee, Bargaining Unit employees who are required to report to work will be offered work, in order of seniority, at the rate of their regular hourly rate of pay plus time and one half (1-½). District Safety Officers (SO) will have seniority rights to work their regular shifts. Safety and Security needs outside the regular shifts of the SOs will be offered to District Safety and Security Officers (SSO) on a day-to-day basis by seniority.
    
2. Teamster II: Collective Bargaining Language Section 7.5:  In the event of an unusual building closure due to inclement weather, plant in-operation, or the like, employees reporting to work shall receive a minimum of two (2) hours pay at base rate in the event of such a closure; provided, however, no employee shall be entitled to any such compensation in the event of direct contact or notification through announcements on one or more local radio station and/or television broadcasts at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the beginning of the shift.  If the Administrative Offices (ERAC) are closed due to inclement weather, plant in-operation, or the like, twelve (12) month employees shall not lose that day of pay. In the event certain safety essential employees are required to report to work on any day the Administrative Offices (ERAC) are closed, work will be offered to the affected employees based on seniority and the hourly rate of pay shall be an additional one and one half (1-½) times their normal hourly rate of pay.
    
3. Teamster III: Collective Bargaining Language Section 7.7: In the event of an unusual school closure due to inclement weather, employees reporting to work shall receive a minimum of two (2) hours pay at base rate in the event of such a closure; provided, however, no employee shall be entitled to any such compensation in the event of direct contact or notification through announcements on one or more local radio or television station broadcasts at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the beginning of the shift. See also: Section 7.7.1: Employees who are not notified of an unusual school closure as provided for in Section 7.7., and who report to work, but do not complete their regular shift will be compensated for the hours actually worked plus two (2) additional hours; provided, however, that no employee shall receive compensation for such an in-completed shift in an amount greater than that payable had they completed their normal shift.
    
4. Procedures for Unrepresented Staff: In the event the Superintendent or designee closes the administrative offices due to inclement weather, unrepresented classified staff will be paid their regularly scheduled hours for that day. In the event that the schools are closed but administrative offices are open, unrepresented classified staff are required to report to work as close to their work hours as possible. If an employee does not report to work, appropriate leave will be recorded or leave without pay. Unrepresented staff who are scheduled for vacation or ill during school closures will be charged leave accordingly.