BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MARILYNN L. STRONGASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT

HUMAN RESOURCES

BECKI BRITO DIRECTOR

OFFICE OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFFING

VICTORIA K. KAUFMAN,DIRECTOR

OFFICE OF NON-INSTRUCTIONAL STAFFING

Veterans’ Preference Training

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Purpose:

To ensure all personnel in the district responsible for hiring staff are aware of the rules and follow protocol relating to Veterans’ Preference in the hiring process.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Veterans’ Preference Statutes

Florida Statutes, Chapter 295 sets forth requirements for public employers to accord preferences in appointment, retention, and promotion to certain veterans and spouses of Veterans who are residents of the State of Florida.

School Districts are subject to the requirements of Chapter 295.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Who is eligible? Veterans with a service-connected disability who are eligible

for or receiving compensation, disability retirement, or pension under public laws administered by the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs/Department of Defense.

Veterans of any war who have served on active duty for one day or more during a wartime period, excluding duty for training, and who were honorably discharged from the Armed Forces.

• World War II (1941-1946)• Korean Conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)• Vietnam Era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975)• Persian Gulf (August 2, 1990 – January 2, 1992)

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Who is eligible?

Veterans who served honorably but have not met the criteria for the award of a campaign or expeditionary medal for service in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Operation Enduring Freedom - October 7, 2001 – TBD• Operation Iraqi Freedom – March 19, 2003 - TBD

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Who is eligible?

The spouse of a Veteran who cannot qualify for employment because of a total and permanent service-connected disability.

The spouse of a Veteran missing in action, captured, or forcibly detained by a foreign power.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Employer’s Responsibilities:

Must give notice in all announcements and advertisements of vacancies that special consideration (preference) at each step of the employment selection process will be given.

Application forms must inquire whether applicant is claiming Veterans’ Preference.

Must inform applicants of the requirements for documentation.

Applicant’s Responsibilities:

Must provide required documentation at the time of making application/submitting resume.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Required Documentation

Completed Veterans’ Preference Claim Form (on BCPS Instructional Staffing & Non-Instructional Staffing web sites).

Copy of DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

Proof of Florida Residency (one of the following): Copy of valid Florida driver’s license. Copy of Florida Voter’s Registration card. Copy of mortgage/lease agreement reflecting a Florida

address.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Required Documentation

Disabled Veterans must provide documentation from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) certifying the Veteran has a compensable service-connected disability.

Spouses of disabled Veterans must provide: Certification from either the DVA or Department of Defense

(DoD) that the Veteran is totally and permanently disabled for employment purposes due to a service-connected disability.

Evidence of marriage to the Veteran.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Spouses of those on active duty must provide:

Documentation from the DVA or DoD that the active duty member is missing in action, captured, or forcibly detained.

Evidence of marriage to the Veteran.

Un-remarried widow, or widower of a deceased Veteran must provide: Documentation from either the DVA for service-connected

death of the Veteran, or DoD line of duty death determination. Evidence of marriage. Statement that the widow/widower has not remarried.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Veterans’ Preference Forms Can Be Found online at: http://www.browardschools.com/departments/employm

ent/instructional.htm (for Instructional Staffing)

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/nis/employment.htm (for Non-Instructional Staffing)

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications necessary to the discharge of the duties involved.

The rule defines minimum qualifications to mean a specification of the kinds of experience, training, education, and/or licensure or certification that provides appropriate job-related evidence that an applicant possesses the minimum required knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to the discharge of the duties of the job.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Preference Required at Each Step

An eligible Veteran is entitled to preference at each step of the hiring process.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Preference Required at Each Step

Where numerically based examinations are used for selections, add 10 points (or 10%) to the score of 1st category of applicants (disabled Veterans and spouses of disabled or missing Veterans) and add 5 points (or 5% to all other eligible applicants.

Status is noted on the Veterans’ Preference Claim Form submitted by applicant.

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Veterans’ Preference Training15

Awarding Points for Interview Process If the highest total number of points possible to be given

during an interview is 100 or less, then Add 10% of the individual’s score to the total individual

score for Category 1 Veterans (disabled Veterans and spouses of disabled or missing in action Veterans)

Add 5 % of the individual’s score to the total individual score for all other Veterans

If the highest total number of points possible to be given during an interview is more than 100, then Add 10 points to the individuals score to the total score for

Category 1 Veterans (disabled Veterans and spouses of disabled or missing in action Veterans)

Add 5 points to the individual’s total score to the total score for all other Veterans interviewed

Veterans’ Preference Training

Preference does not expire As of July 1, 2007, Florida law restores Veterans’

preference in employment for all categories of protected individuals previously employed by a state agency or a political subdivision of the state.

Preference in Layoffs Where a layoff is necessitated in a covered position,

similar preferences must be given to the covered employee in the retention process.

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Veterans’ Preference Training

Preference in reinstatement/reemployment When employee leaves employment to serve in the armed

forces, he/she is entitled to reinstatement or reemployment to the same or equivalent position upon release or discharge from active military service provided the veteran returns to the position within one (1) year of his/her date of discharge/separation.

Preference in promotion Promotion preference applies only to a Veteran’s first

promotion after returning from active duty with an honorable discharge without exception.

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Veterans’ Preference Training18

What Do I Need to Do? Train all assistant principals and office managers who are

responsible for screening applications or resumes and scheduling interviews on Veterans’ Preference guidelines/rules.

Ensure that staff is familiar with required forms: Veterans’ Preference Claim Form DD Form 214

Schedule interviews for all qualified Veterans. If a rating scale is used during the interview process, assign

preference points according to the regulations. Do not offer employment to any applicant prior to the expiration

date of the advertised vacancy. Keep all documents (i.e., resumes, scoring sheets, interview

questions, etc. for audit purposes).

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What Happens if I Don’t Follow the Rules?

Veteran may file a discrimination claim with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

District could face lawsuits.

Protect yourself and the District. . .

Veterans’ Preference Training

. . .Call for Assistance

Vicky Kaufman, Director, Non-Instructional Staffing (754) 321-1815

Becki Brito, Director, Instructional Staffing (754) 321-2324

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Veterans’ Preference Training

… Call for Assistance

Florida Department of Veterans’ AffairsDivision of Benefits and Assistance

PO Box 31003St. Petersburg, FL 33731

Phone: (727) 319-7462Fax: (727) 319-7780

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The School Board of Broward County, Florida

Maureen Dinnen, ChairJennifer Leonard Gottlieb, Vice Chair

Robin BartlemanPhyllis C. Hope

Stephanie Arma Kraft, Esq.Ann Murray

Robert D. Parks, Ed.D.Benjamin Williams

James F. Notter, Superintendent of Schools

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The School Board of Broward County, Florida

The School Board of Broward County, Florida, prohibits any policy or procedure which results in discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Individuals who wish to file a discrimination complaint may call the Director of Equal Educational Opportunities (EEO) at 754-321-2150 or Teletype Machine (TTY) at 754-321-2158.

Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may call the Director of Equal Educational Opportunities (EEO) at 754-31-2150 or Teletype Machine (TTY) at 754-321-2158.

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