(a) The City’s goal is to provide incentive and opportunity for any City employee to take continuing education courses in an effort to better themselves as employees and citizens of the Kenton community.
(b) General guidelines for the program.
(1) Every City employee is encouraged to better himself or herself by taking continuing education courses. The city will assist them in doing so based on:
A. Their employment status;
B. The level of benefit to the City of Kenton;
C. The level of commitment the employee shows toward courses taken.
(2) Any employee who desires to take a continuing education course must receive approval from their supervisor prior to enrolling, in order for the city to reimburse the costs. The supervisor must make arrangements with the Auditor for repayment, and make plans to cover the employees’ post while he or she is in class.
(3) Employees are eligible to be reimbursed for up to 100% of the costs of a continuing education course, including mileage and meals. The following conditions will allow 100% reimbursement for continuing education costs, and funds will be available prior to taking the course. Additionally, the employee may receive his or her regular wages during the class time if the employee must miss work to attend.
A. If an employee’s supervisor requests that an employee take the course;
B. If the course is necessary for the employee’s job;
C. If, in the opinion of the supervisor, the course directly benefits the City.
(4) Employees may be eligible to be reimbursed for a portion of the costs of a continuing education course even if the course does not directly relate to the employee’s job. The amount of reimbursement, if any, will be determined by the supervisor prior to enrolling in the course. The reimbursement will be made to the employee upon completion of the course. Documentation showing completion/graduation will be required. If, in the opinion of the supervisor, the course will benefit the City through the employee (Ex. Leadership training courses, emergency medical training courses, etc) the supervisor will recommend a larger portion or reimbursement than if there is little obvious benefit to the City. If the employee is unsatisfied with the portion allotted by their supervisor, the employee may appeal the decision to the Safety/Service Direction.
(5) Any continuing education course that an employee enrolls in, but does not complete will not be eligible for reimbursement by the City. Any funds already paid by the City will be reimbursed to the City of the employee in such cases.
(Ord. 02-013. Passed 8-26-02.)