THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610020589
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 58 lines
Any fresh ideas on getting more life out of school bus engines? Know how to build a high-tech high school in less than a year? Have a new method to make classes run more smoothly?
If school system employees do - and the suggestions pay off in time and money - they're eligible for cash awards.
Through an employee incentive program that began this spring, Chesapeake's nearly 4,200 school employees can receive awards ranging from a recognition certificate to $2,500 if their ideas work.
``The premise is that we have good employees who have good ideas that can contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the school system,'' said Linda Palombo, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, who helped develop the program last year. ``When their ideas are adopted, they should get recognition.''
The 21 suggestions the district has received so far have been in the areas of finance, curriculum, transportation and food services, among others.
Chesapeake began looking at an incentive plan a couple of years ago and studied similar programs run by the federal government, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the city of Chesapeake and Norfolk Public Schools.
After researching, they tailored their own program:
The district looks for suggestions that are timely and related to improving procedures, equipment, work conditions, safety, or reduction of time or expense.
A suggestion can be a new idea or modification of an existing one.
Some areas are not eligible for consideration:
employee classifications and pay schedules.
matters already under review.
duplicate suggestions.
requests for equipment usually supplied or replaced.
Suggestions that state a problem or voice a grievance without offering a solution are considered incomplete and given back to the employee.
Also, employees who are already assigned to tackle a problem within their area of responsibility or charged with improving a procedure or finding a cost reduction aren't eligible.
Supervisors can submit a suggestion if it is outside their area of responsibility.
Ideas and details of the expected results are submitted to the personnel department and reviewed by a committee. Suggestions that are used are evaluated for the first year. Where savings can be determined, the employee will receive an award of 10 percent of the first year's savings up to a maximum of $2,500.
Suggestions that enhance the quality of work life but don't generate measurable savings or income will garner a recognition certificate and a $50 cash award.
School officials won't disclose details - or money - until the end of the yearlong evaluation. MEMO: For more information, contact the personnel department at
547-0001.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS by CNB