Instructor Handbook

School District of River Falls COMMUNITY EDUCATION Instructor Handbook Welcome to Community Education! Our Mission River Falls Community Education is committed to the unique partnership that exists between the school district and the community it serves. A community school is a place used freely and informally for all aspects of learning, maximizing the use of publicly owned facilities. Community Education provides lifelong opportunities for citizens to affect the quality of life within the community by sharing their knowledge, skills, and interest with one another, thus promoting dignity, compassion and pride. A community school is a place of learning for all. A Message to Instructors: The School District of River Falls Community Education program will, with your help, offer residents of all ages lifelong learning opportunities designed to meet their diverse needs, wants and interests. Community educators like yourself, make it possible for us to continue growing and providing residents of all ages with a variety of educational, recreational, professional development, and personal enrichment experiences. Thank you in advance for sharing your time, talents and expertise to benefit our residents. Your dedication and commitment to lifelong learning contributes greatly to the success of our program. The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with program information and procedures. It is our hope that this handbook will serve as a useful reference guide to help answer common questions and concerns. We hope your teaching experience for the School District of River Falls Community Education will be a rewarding and enjoyable one for you and your participants. Please contact me at (715)425-1830, ext. 3801 or [email protected], if I can be of any assistance or if you have suggestions for program improvement. Thank you for sharing your talents. Monique Squire Community Education Coordinator Certified Program Planner School District of River Falls River Falls High School | 818 Cemetery Rd | River Falls, WI 54022

715-425-1830, ext. 3801 [email protected]

Community Education Staff and Office Hours Monique Squire Community Education Coordinator Certified Program Planner (715)425-1830 x. 3801 (715)821-8214 (cell) [email protected]

Lauren Kaminski Community Education Secretary (715)425-1830 x. 3800 [email protected]

Address: River Falls High School 818 Cemetery Road, River Falls, WI 54022 We are located across the hall from the main administrative office. Registration Website: www.rflearns.org Office Hours: 8am-4pm M-F during the school year (Closed 12-1pm) There is a drop-box outside our office for after hour registrations. Evening cell phone number: (715)821-8214 Class Proposals Individuals wanting to be considered as instructors for Community Education must complete a class proposal form. The class proposal will then be brought before the Advisory Council to be approved. Proposals are available in our office or online. Proposal Deadlines Community Education offers 3 sessions per year. Dates can be found below. Please contact us with ques-

tions.

Winter/Spring

Spring/Summer Fall/Winter

Proposals Due:

October 1

February 1

June 1

Catalog Mail Date:

Early December

Early April

Early August

Classes take place:

January-April

May-August

September-December

Instructor Pay If instructors teach a class in a school district building, they will receive 70% of the student registration fee plus 100% of material fees. Community Education will receive 30% of class fees. If a class is taught off-site, the instructor will receive 75% of the registration fee plus 100% of materials fees, with Community Education receiving 25% of class fees. These percentages are subject to change and may vary from class to class. Off-Site Programs Instructors wanting to hold classes off-site will need to provide adequate proof of insurance, as well as have the Community Education Coordinator approve the class site. Waivers Waivers will not be provided by the Community Education program. However, instructors may provide waivers for participants if they so choose.

Registration A class list will be provided at the first class, along with student evaluation forms. If you have an enrollment deadline, please let us know, otherwise we will accept last minute enrollees. Minimum and maximum participants are determined by you and the Community Education Coordinator. Exceptions will be made when mutually agreed upon. Waiting lists may be kept when appropriate and additional sessions may be offered if you are available. Walk-ins can register with prior office approval on a space available basis. Please give registrations and checks to the Community Education Office, or drop them off in the drop box after hours. Checks can be made payable to: SDRFCE. Accidents or Injuries Familiarize yourself with the building that your are teaching in. Know where the phones are located in the building and how to dial out (dial 9) for an outside line. If possible, please carry a cell phone. Material Duplication Provide originals and instructions to the Community Education office at least one week before the class begins. You may pick up duplicated materials at the Community Education office the day your class starts. Equipment Audio-visual equipment is available in most classrooms. Equipment use must be pre-arranged. Notify the Community Education office of your needs on the Class Planning Form when scheduling your class. Instructors wishing to use equipment must familiarize themselves with the equipment functions/operations prior to the class. Additional procedures and agreements may be required prior to the program. Substitute Instructors If you are ill or unable to teach your class and plan to have a substitute fill in, you are required to contact the Community Education office immediately with the substitute’s name. Community Education must approve the substitute’s background and qualifications for teaching the class. Class Cancellations for Illness or Emergency In the case of instructor illness or emergency contact the Community Education office as soon as possible to discuss rescheduling of your class and to request assistance with notifying students of the change. If after 4:00 p.m. call the evening cell phone at (715)821-8214. Inclement Weather/School Closing If the school district closes due to bad weather, we may cancel all Community Education classes. We will contact you as soon as the decision is made and may request your help in notifying students. We will make every effort to reschedule your class or refund the students accordingly. Please check our website, www.rflearns.org for updated information. Unforeseen Events or Emergency Pre-approved school district Community Education activities may need to be cancelled by district authorities to accommodate changes in school functions. In most cases the school district will attempt to provide scheduled groups with at least two business days notice when an unexpected need for space arises. Every effort will be made to keep cancellations to a minimum. Facilities will be rescheduled if necessary. Use of Facilities Please leave the room you use as you found it. Do not use supplies or erase boards in the room, etc. Please remember these rooms are “on loan” and should be treated with respect.

Customer Satisfaction and Refunds Students need to contact the Community Education office at least five business days before class begins to receive a full refund. Generally, no refunds are made after the first class unless agreed upon by the Community Education office. If participants are not satisfied with your class, we believe in refunding them their full or partial fee depending on the situation. We will discuss the matter with you and how you could contribute to solving the concerns. Instructor Payment All Community Education instructors are required to submit a W-9 tax form, Class Planning Form, Criminal Background Check and signed contract to our office. Instructors will receive payment for their classes on the first Thursday of the month after their last instruction day. Checks will be mailed to instructors. Reimbursement for Supplies Pre-authorized supply costs will be added as a materials fee to your course if necessary. Most supply costs can be reimbursed if pre-authorized by the Community Education Coordinator prior to the start date of the class. You will need to provide an invoice or original receipt in order to be reimbursed. Promoting Your Class You are your own best public relations person. Don’t be afraid to encourage your friends to register for our classes. Community Education will promote your class in the catalog, online, through news releases, blogs and cable access.

INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS AND LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING EXPECTATIONS: This letter of understanding has been drafted to list and clarify expectations of the School District of River Falls Community Education Instructors and Independent Contractors. 1.

Community Education reserves the right to cancel any class for any reason. In case of cancellation, this agreement is null and void. Instructors in our program agree to abide by the policies of the School District of River Falls Community Education.

2.

Instructors will leave the program space in the condition it was found. Damage or room concern should be reported to the Community Education Coordinator or the custodian prior to the start of the program. Use of facilities is restricted to the time published in program descriptions.

3.

Instructors will not sell or promote products during class without written approval of the coordinator. Students are not to be offered any free, reduced price, or full price consultations, visits, or meetings. No follow up meetings, mailings, or telephone contact will be initiated by the instructor during or after a class. Any contact after class must be initiated by the student.

4.

Instructors will make no specific financial investment recommendations.

5.

Instructors will not keep class lists or otherwise gather personal information. No networking of lists to other business colleagues will be allowed. Lists are to be destroyed or discarded immediately after class.

6.

Instructor may only offer business cards on a side or back table for students to take at the end of class. No other promotional materials will be allowed. No contracts may be signed by the students.

7.

All handouts/materials must be generic. No business logos, stationary or reference to a specific company is allowed. Instructor’s name and professional credentials may appear on handouts.

8.

All class promotional items/marketing tools must be pre-approved by the Community Education staff. Any advertising of Community Education classes through the instructor’s web page or any other web-based site must be pre-approved by the Community Education staff. Community Education staff will have the final decision on content, pictures, verbiage/language, font style, etc. for any marketing tool to promote a class.

9.

Use of Community Education evaluation form is required. Evaluations are to be given to Community Education immediately after completion of the course. Additional evaluation or information gathering forms will be allowed with prior written approval of the coordinator.

10. Instructors are expected to dress in an appropriate manner for the type of class they will be teaching. Please dress as professionals and remember that you are representing yourself as well as the School District of River Falls Community Education. Those instructors of youth classes should remember that they are setting an example for our children. Community Education reserves the right to ask instructors to change clothing if dress is considered inappropriate for the students or class affected. 11. Please arrive at least 15 min. before the start time of your class. This will leave time for you to set up your class and be prepared to greet your students and start your class on time. 12. Community Education staff or Advisory Council members may audit classes unannounced. 13. Community Education will follow through on all student complaints. 14. The School District of River Falls Community Education prohibits discrimination, harassment and violence on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, disability, sexual preference, marital status or public assistance status. 15. Instructors are required to complete a Criminal Background Check through the Community Education office. 16. Instructors must familiarize themselves with safety procedures, including emergency evacuation routes, fire extinguishers, etc. Alarm warnings must be adhered to all times. I have read the letter of understanding and will comply fully with its stipulations. Print Name_____________________________ Signature _______________________________

School District of River Falls Community Education River Falls High School 818 Cemetery Rd. River Falls, WI 54022 (715)425-1830 x. 3801 [email protected]

Date___________________________________

Class Proposal Form All class proposals will be reviewed by the Community Education Advisory Council. If the class proposal meets the criteria of the council, it will be approved and added to class offerings. Title of Class: __________________________________ Age Specifications: _______________ Please give a brief description (30-100 words) of the class for the catalog. Be specific about what participants will learn and how it will benefit them. Also list supplies participants will need to bring to class (if applicable). ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Class Date(s)__________________________ Day(s) of the Week_____________ # of Sessions: _____ Class Starting Time/Ending Time_________________________________________________________ Minimum # of Students: _________________________

Maximum: _________________________

Registration fee for class: $_________________ Materials fee: $ __________________ (Reminder: for classes held in SDRF buildings, fees are split 70% to instructor, 30% to Comm. Ed, for classes held off-site, fees are split 75% / 25%. 100% of materials fees are reimbursed to the instructor)

Please list any Audio/Visual equipment or materials that you may need for your class (i.e. DVD/VCR/Monitor, LCD Projector, class handouts, textbooks, sink access, etc.):

____________________________________________________________________________________ If you need copies of class handouts, please send originals to the Community Education Office no later than 10 days before the beginning of your class. Instructor’s Name:________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________ City/State:_______________ Zip:________ Home Phone:___________________________ Business/Cell Phone:________________________ Email Address:__________________________________ Fax:_____________________________

Have you taught for any other Community Education programs? YES / NO If yes, which district(s)? __________________________________________

Names of three references: ______________________________ ___________________ ______________________. Name Phone Relationship _____________________________ ___________________ ______________________. Name Phone Relationship _____________________________ Name

___________________ ______________________. Phone Relationship