We are one week into a new work and home environment that is uncomfortable for many of us, and yet I am inspired by the way everyone has come together.  Thank you!  Each of you has an important role in supporting community efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.  I want you to keep yourself and loved ones healthy.

Your physical health is a top priority, but so is your financial health.  I am doing my best to avoid financial harm to ESD 112 employees.  To achieve that, I need employees and managers to continue working together to find meaningful work that can be done from home.  Over 90% of our employees worked from home this past week.  That is amazing, let’s keep it up.

While I do not know exactly what the next few weeks or months may bring our way, I know we are strong, capable and will figure out how to continue coming together to support each other and the great work we do.

Below are guidelines that address work expectations starting Monday, March 23rd and continuing through Friday, April 24th.  These are unprecedented and uncertain times, so the expectations might change, but for the time being we will operate within the expectations set out below.

Work Expectations – March 23 through April 24

  • All non-essential employees will work from home pursuant to temporary work from home agreements.
  • Only essential employees are allowed to work in the Vancouver Office, in other ESD facilities, or in schools.
  • Managers and employees will continue to develop and carry out work plans, which might include work that is typically done in the office that can be done at home, virtual meetings and interactions, self-study, professional development, program development and planning, and other functions that benefit employees, ESD programs, school districts, or students and families we serve.
  • Employees who do not have meaningful work may take vacation leave, emergency leave (charged to sick leave), or leave without pay, as approved by their manager.
  • Employees may use accrued sick leave for their own illness or to care for an ill family member.
  • Employees may use vacation or emergency leave (deducted from sick leave)
    • If they are self-quarantined or have been directed or recommended by a health official or a state or local government to quarantine (stay home)
    • If they live with someone who has been directed or recommended by a health official to quarantine, or who has COVID-19 symptoms
    • To care for a child that is home due to the closure of schools or their child care center
  • Employees who do not want to exhaust their leave, or who do exhaust their leave, may take leave without pay.  Use of leave, including leave without pay, must be approved by the manager before it is taken.

VANCOVER OFFICE 

  • The office will be closed to the public but accessible to essential employees.
  • Cabinet Members must receive and approve the hours essential employees are scheduled to work in the office.
  • Efforts must be made to minimize the number of employees that are in the office at one time and all employees must practice social distancing.
  • Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who has come into contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms must remain home and shall not come to the ESD office.

ESD FIELD STAFF (i.e. Quest Academy, STEPS, ESA School Districts) 

  • Facilities are closed to the public but may remain open for essential employees as determined by the school district administration (for schools) or the program Cabinet Member.
  • Assistant Superintendent Mike Nerland, or the appropriate Executive Director, must receive and approve the hours essential employees are scheduled to work in ESD or school facilities.
  • Limit the number of people in an ESD facility or classroom to 10 or less and practice social distancing
  • Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who has come in contact with someone with COVID019 symptoms must remain home and shall not go to an ESD facility or a school
  • All field staff that work a school year calendar must coordinate work days with their manager and the work days must align to the work days of the appropriate school district.

The way we work, where we work, and the environment around us has been in constant change this past week.  What hasn’t changed is our commitment to our mission driven work and each other. We do great and hard things and we will continue doing that.

Stay well and look for opportunities to enjoy time with loved ones.

-Tim