Board agrees in principle to accept 'all years' of certificated experience on hiring schedule

During a first reading of Policy 4110.1 on Feb. 12, the Beatrice Public Schools Board discussed altering the district regulation that determines how years of prior experience are credited when hiring certificated staff.

Mister Alexander said negotiators and the Beatrice Education Association proposed permitting "all years of experience" to be brought in on hiring in order to remain competitive with other districts. The policy previously referenced a 50‑year cap in draft language; board members agreed to remove that cap and accept all certified years for the purposes of the salary schedule. "All years of experience," Alexander said.

Board members discussed whether the policy should require the experience to be certificated experience versus any school‑related experience. Several members recommended clarifying that credit applies to certificated (certified) experience, not para‑professional service, and to address transitions between different certificated roles (for example, a teacher moving from music to English). The board agreed staff should refine the regulation language and bring the change back at the next reading.

No final vote was taken; this item will return for additional review and a subsequent vote.