Union proposes broader mileage reimbursement to cover teacher home visits and off-site meetings

Junction City Education Association negotiators proposed removing the phrase "from one building to another" from the district's mileage-reimbursement rule so that employees who use personal vehicles for home visits and other off-site duties would be eligible for reimbursement.

The change, presented as part of the association's packet of non‑compensation proposals, would expand reimbursement to cover travel related to community outreach, early childhood home visits, instrument drop‑offs and district meetings held off site.

The proposal was prompted in part by complaints that some principals and HR staff have denied mileage vouchers. A negotiator said the denial pattern is inconsistent across buildings and has led some teachers to avoid submitting valid requests. District negotiators asked for concrete examples and the number of teachers who currently perform home visits; they recommended the union ask principals and suggested district staff could check how many district vehicles are available to cover travel.

District staff present included Tim Winter, Geary County Schools executive director of personnel services, and David Cunningham of KASB (Kansas Association of School Boards). Winter and other district staff said district vehicles are limited and that if a teacher has access to a district vehicle and the district covers maintenance and fuel, mileage reimbursement would normally not apply. The district agreed to gather data: counts of denied vouchers and principal reports about how many teachers are being asked to perform home visits or similar off‑site duties.

Both sides discussed a narrow drafting alternative—adding an illustrative list such as "for example, home visits, off‑site meetings"—to clarify the intent without creating an exhaustive list. Negotiators did not adopt final contract language in this meeting and agreed to follow up with principals' counts and voucher denial examples at the next session.

Speakers on this topic included JCEA negotiators (listed in meeting materials as the presenting association), Tim Winter, executive director of personnel services, Geary County Schools, and David Cunningham, KASB representative.

The item remained under discussion and was not voted on. District staff asked the association to provide examples and asked principals how many teachers are doing the work; the district will return with counts of denials and vehicle‑pool constraints at a subsequent meeting.