Committee proposes March 15 deadline and two‑year site minimum for voluntary transfers

Policy committee members debated the administrative rule that governs voluntary transfers (GCK administrative rule) and agreed to two principal changes to present to the board: move the annual request deadline from February 15 to March 15, and require that an employee be at a site for at least two years before being eligible to request a voluntary transfer.

Dr. Sheffield urged that the district balance recruitment and stability, saying the district needs "some stability" in schools while acknowledging principals' concerns that a February deadline is too early. Several members favored a two‑year eligibility requirement as a compromise between stability and targeted mobility; one member noted that a shorter two‑year window can allow new hires to "get their foot in the district" and later request a transfer closer to home.

The committee asked staff to place the March 15 deadline and the two‑year eligibility rule in the administrative rule language (not the overarching policy), and to return a draft for board consideration. Staff were also instructed to consult with principals and HR to ensure the change is administrable and aligns with assignment and payroll timelines.

Next steps: draft administrative‑rule language that sets March 15 as the transfer request deadline and states that employees must have served at the site at least two years to be eligible to request a voluntary transfer; include the change in the board packet for consideration.