MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representative Clarke

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE STATUS OF CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MISSISSIPPI FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE IN JANUARY 2000; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) It is the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to recognize the value of the classified employees in our public schools. Recognizing the dignity of all labor, it is further intended that these employees be accorded those rights and procedures to which they are rightfully entitled as valued employees. Therefore, the State Department of Education is directed to establish a task force to examine the status of classified personnel in the public schools of Mississippi and to make a report of the findings of this task force to the Mississippi Legislature in January 2000.

For the purpose of this task force, classified employees are those personnel not required to hold certification as a qualification for employment. These include, but are not limited to, teaching assistants, bus drivers, secretaries, maintenance, janitorial and cafeteria personnel.

(2) No less than fifty percent (50%) of the task force shall be made up of classified personnel representative of the above groups who are not in a supervisory capacity.

(3) The report shall include research of the following practices in Mississippi public schools:

(a) Hiring criteria, practices and standards;

(b) Job descriptions;

(c) Salary schedules;

(d) Job security measures;

(e) Training programs;

(f) Contract Language; and

(g) Due process procedures for nonrenewal.

The task force shall examine examples of the above practices from other states.

The report shall include the recommendation of the task force form implementation of practices which should be adopted for classified personnel. The report shall also recommend a certification process for teaching assistants, and other classified personnel, as may be determined by the task force.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.