OTHER FAQs

Employees whose positions have been cut are not necessarily the employees who are ultimately placed on layoff. Employees will receive official notice of layoff within 2 weeks of the date of layoff at the latest. Human Resources needs to verify seniority and determine who has bumping rights per contract to positions before an official layoff notice is sent. The notification date will depend on your work year. 

If you would like to connect with someone in Human Resources, please reach out to our associates by phone 651-767-8200 or by email at   hr.info@spps.org . They will be able to answer your questions or direct you to a member of Human Resources staff who can help. While we are available at the Colborne Administrative Building, our HR staff are extremely busy during this season of the year, so it is highly recommended to make an appointment beforehand as we cannot guarantee that someone will be immediately available to speak with you.

Yes! You can apply for other jobs in the district. However, people with recall rights will be given jobs within their bargaining unit before other individuals are considered for vacancies.

Recall rights refer to the legal or contract entitlements of a laid-off employee to be released by the same employer at later date. Please refer to your labor agreement for recall rights specifications for your specific union.  

You can search for vacancies and apply online at https://www.spps.org/careers.

If you are a licensed teacher, you can work as a substitute through Kelly Education. Paraprofessionals and civil service employees may apply for temporary or hourly jobs throughout the upcoming months. If you have been selected for a summer school assignment, you may be able to still work summer school even if you’ve been laid off or your position has been cut.

Apply today with kelly Education® 
 

As positions become available, placements are made in order of seniority. Most placements are made by the end of the school year; however, vacancies occur throughout the year.

Recall rights vary by bargaining unit. Each unit has different recall rights. You can check your union contract, call Human Resources, or contact your union representative to determine your recall rights.

Recall occurs in reverse seniority order. When vacancies are realized throughout the upcoming months, individuals who are the most senior in the job title and who qualify for the position are recalled first. If an individual refuses a position when they are recalled, they must resign from Saint Paul Public Schools.

You may be eligible for unemployment if you:

• earned sufficient wage credits
• are unemployed through no fault of your own
• are able to work and available for employment
• are actively seeking suitable employment

For comprehensive information relative to unemployment eligibility, visit the State’s web page: www.uimn.org. For job seeker services, visit the Minnesota Workforce Center website at https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/.

When you receive your layoff notice, you should apply for unemployment right away. Even though you may be eligible for vacation pay, vacation pay does not affect the timing for unemployment compensation. You can apply via the internet at www.umin.org or apply over the phone at 651-296-3644. If you worked for another employer before coming to SPPS you may be eligible for unemployment based on the hours and earnings from your previous employer.

To apply for benefits, you can submit your application online through the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program by visiting www.uimn.org. If you prefer to apply by phone, you may contact the program directly at 651-296-3644 to complete the process. Regardless of the method you choose, it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible to ensure timely processing.

• Tier 1 or Tier 2 license holders can only obtain or renew a license with a contingency of a job offer from a school district. If you are in the year of renewing your license you will want to ensure you have the requirements indicated on your PELSB license, which may include: attempting the MTLE exams, and/or completing four Professional Development courses: American Indian History and Culture, Cultural Competency, Suicide Prevention and Mental Illness. Renewals require signatures from the district Human Resource Coordinator respective to the building you are assigned to.
   
• Tier 3 and Tier 4 license holders can relicense with the district they work for OR district they live in with that district's Relicensing Committee. License holders need to ensure they have the required clock hours and areas needed to relicense. License holders may request to have a copy of their PowerSchool transcript by emailing the relicensing committee: relicensurecommittee@spps.org. More information on the process and procedure for relicensing can be found on the SPPS district's Relicensing webpage: https://www.spps.org/about/departments/human-resources/educator-development/relicensure-process.
   
• Please note that PowerSchool is where current SPPS employees can access these Professional Development courses, but they are only available during the school year. Therefore, it would be at your discretion to take measures to have them reflected on your transcript before the school year ends.

No. If your position is being cut, it no longer exists. Therefore, this position will not be eligible to take a leave from. If you need a leave prior to the cut date, please reach out to Benefits@spps.org.

If you are interested in retiring, contact Benefits 651-744-1030 or Benefits@spps.org. The team can help you to determine your eligibility and will discuss retiree benefits with you. You may also resign by completing a resignation form. Resignation forms may be completed and submitted online through your PeopleSoft account .

You are still a member of the union throughout the duration of your recall rights. Recall rights can vary per contract, please consult your labor agreement for specific information related to your recall/lay off rights.

A layoff is not considered a break in service for purposes of longevity and/or seniority in the school district during the recall period as defined in each labor agreement.

If you believe that you are being treated unfairly, your first step is to talk to your supervisor. If this is not an option for you, you should contact either the Human Resource Consultant who supports your school/program or your union representative.

Seniority lists for most bargaining units are available through PeopleSoft. In addition, you can contact your Human Resource Coordinator who supports your school/program.

ComPsych® GuidanceResources® is available to assist you on an individual basis for personal crisis counseling, referral for financial planning, legal issues, and much more. You can visit our Employee Assistant Program(EAP) webpage for more information. For most up to date information, please contact district.wellness@spps.org.