Contractual Arrangements for appointing new staff
Most schools have their own special forms for contracts. Arrangements should be finalized using these forms as soon as recommendations have gone through the necessary channels and have been approved by the appropriate school officials.
Announcement of new staff members should be withheld until the selections have been officially approved. No member of a school committee or board of trustees cares to be a mere “rubber stamp.”
Embarrassing situations have developed when appointments of new coaches have been announced before final approvals have been obtained. There have been instances where official bodies have refused to approve appointments under such circumstances.
New staff members should be acquainted with personnel policies before contracts are signed. They should know not only the salary arrangements but also the policies on retirement, medical insurance, leaves of absence, vacations, travel allowances, tenure, dismissal, and other personnel matters.
Administrators who are as remiss in their responsibilities as to neglect to inform candidates about these matters have only themselves to blame if lack of such knowledge causes trouble later.
Directors of departments should, immediately upon announcing the name of the person selected for a position, notify in writing all others whose applications were considered. This is a common courtesy too often neglected.
