Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry sent a memo out a few days ago -- to all county employees -- a guidance on how to prepare for this day.
He encouraged departments to be flexible with work schedules.
Employees can use accrued leave -- and if they don't have any -- they can take time off -- without pay.
Supervisors were told to plan for the potential disruption to work assignments.
We checked in with the sheriff's department -- that does affect public safety. We're told there was very little impact on staffing levels.
Huckleberry says the county plan is in place for the duration of the walkout.
Meantime, the superintendent of the largest school district said earlier this week -- he's trying to give the community enough time to react to school closures. "If we have a majority of schools in that situation an overwhelming majority in our schools are in that situation it makes greater sense out of respect and the time needed for our parents and our community to mobilize and make alternative arrangments.. It makes better sense to just look at a district closure," said Gabriel Trujillo.
Right now, districts, parents and workers throughout the region are in a reactive state -- waiting for more information from union leaders on how long the walkout will last.
Full Memo:
To prepare for the statewide teacher walk-out planned to begin on Thursday, April 26, 2018, departments are encouraged to:
•Provide flexible work schedules and short-term accommodations to help employees in coordinating care for their children.
•Affected employees may use accrued annual leave to care for their children during the walk-out. If an employee does not have any accrued leave banks, departments may allow employees leave without pay.
•Ironically, Thursday, April 26, 2018, is also National Take Your Child to Work Day. Given the situation with the planned walk-out, for this Thursday only, we can allow employees to participate by hosting their child at the office to expand their child's career horizons. Employees should notify their supervisor of the intent to bring a child to work and plan the day appropriately. Because of the potential risk to children in settings outside of an office, this option is only available for office positions.
Supervisors will need to plan for the potential disruption to work assignments caused by the absence of employees who may need to be off work to care for or find care for their children, while ensuring that we have continuity of services.
If unique circumstances arise for individual employees, please bring these issues to the attention of the HR Department Director or Deputy County Administrators for review.
C.H. Huckelberry
County Administrator
