School board approves memorandum allowing pay for extra COVID work

In a special board meeting Thursday, the Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees unanimously passed memorandums of agreement between the Havre Public School District and the Havre Education Association, Havre Public Paraprofessional Education Association and Teamster Local #2.

The compensation is for work performed outside the duty day completed by staff to prepare for, respond to and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the school district.

The memorandums passed Thursday are required to provide compensation to employees and to document the agreed upon compensation amount and avoid claims of unilateral change in the bargaining agreement.

The board still must authorize the compensation so that it can be paid to employees before Dec. 30.

The school district will use the Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to pay the overtime compensation to qualified non-exempt staff members. This will provide a one-time payment of $500 to full-time employees and a $250 payment to part-time employees who performed work outside the duty day during the COVID-19 public health emergency between Sept. 8 and Dec. 18.

The duties include: coordinating with colleagues and public health officials, redeploying educational support staff or faculty to develop online learning capabilities, cleaning and disinfecting classrooms and common areas, securing and using personal protective equipment during the delivery of onsite or offsite instruction, assisting students, parents and the public with the use of personal protective equipment, and meeting with students, parents and public to assist in district operations and onsite or offsite instruction.

The compensation is provided only to employees who completed the additional duties and is not intended to be provided to all employees. It is also not a bonus or a stipend.