The county will assist employees in their education goals by either granting administrative leave (time off with pay) to attend classes or subsidizing the educational expenses of employees but subject to the following conditions:
(A) All requests for educational assistance must be approved by the department head/elected official and the Board of County Commissioners using an approved form. Some educational assistance shall require a certain time commitment to the county based on the educational assistance needed for the position.
(B) No educational program/classes will be reimbursed unless prior approval is obtained.
(C) The educational program will provide a direct benefit to the county through the employee’s current employment position.
(D) The employee shall successfully complete the required course work with a passing grade.
(E) The employee shall agree to repay any such assistance (including granted leave time) which was received for educational work completed in the three years immediately preceding any type of termination. This includes POST and Correctional Certification Training. The employee receiving educational assistance will sign an agreement to the conditions of this policy.
(F) The department for which the employee works, will pay all cost of the educational assistance and/or administrative leave.
(G) Educational assistance shall not exceed $600 in any one calendar year for any employee. POST, Correctional Certification and CLE is not applicable to this item. If the cost of the assistance is greater than $600, it will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
(H) Educational assistance is only available to those employees working more than 32 hours per week and that currently have a satisfactory performance evaluation. Educational assistance is approved, provided that their plan of study does not interfere with their work schedule.
(I) If the employee is entitled to veteran’s educational benefits such benefits must be used in lieu of county reimbursement. The county reimbursement will be reduced by the amount of reimbursement the employee is eligible for from the Veteran’s Administration.
(J) Education assistance used to qualify for a higher position in the county does not guarantee that the employee will be promoted or advanced to a higher position If there is a vacancy in that position. Advancement is subject to administrative approval and availability of funding.
(Ord. passed 6- -2019; Ord. 2021-13, passed 12-21-2021; Ord. 2022-06, passed - -)