Fond du Lac board approves updated employee handbooks after debate over inclement-weather policy

The Fond du Lac School District Board of Education on March 24 approved updated employee handbooks — including teacher professional staff, ESPA, custodial, maintenance and specialized employee handbooks — after a contested roll-call vote that passed 4-3.

The vote followed public comment from a custodial and maintenance employee and an extended discussion by board members and district leadership about a revised inclement-weather policy. “We are not in favor of the changes to this section,” maintenance worker Mike Schmidt told the board, saying the revised language would remove long-standing pay and vacation options for employees who worked during inclement weather.

Superintendent Dr. Matt Flagg defended the administration’s position and described the circumstances that prompted the policy change. “I made the decision on January 21 to cancel school due to extreme cold,” Flagg said, explaining that he required employees to stay home because of dangerous wind-chill conditions. He said the district historically had allowed custodial staff to work on some weather days and receive additional pay or an extra vacation day, and the handbook update seeks to remove that particular perk while preserving other pay protections.

Board discussion focused on three points: the intent behind the administration’s January decision to cancel school for safety reasons, whether the handbook language is sufficiently clear for custodial staff, and whether custodial/maintenance handbooks should be considered separately from the other employee handbooks. Several board members urged additional conversations with custodial staff before finalizing the language. One board member proposed separating the custodial/maintenance handbooks for further discussion; the motion before the board, however, was to approve the handbooks as presented.

The board’s roll call on the handbooks was: Horth — yes; Labyrinth — no; Motor — no; Pinnell — yes; Godfrey — no; Henschel — yes; Schrider — yes. The tally was 4 yes, 3 no; the motion carried.

District officials clarified benefits and leave available to custodial staff during the discussion. Dr. Flagg said the district provides custodial staff 20 days of vacation and 12 sick days per year; the board also discussed that custodial employees historically could receive either pay for the hours worked on some weather days or an extra vacation day, which the new handbook language removes.

The board and administration said they will continue outreach to custodial and maintenance employees about the practical effects of the new policy and the wording of the handbook, though the board approved the handbooks at Thursday’s meeting.

Ending: The board approved the handbooks at the March 24 meeting. Several board members signaled a desire for continued dialogue with custodial staff even after the vote; district staff said they are available to revisit specific language if the board directs them to do so.