1120.11 - PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS IN EMPLOYMENT

School Board of Alachua County

Bylaws & Policies

1120.11 - PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS IN EMPLOYMENT

Preference in employment, reemployment, promotion, and retention shall be given to an eligible veteran as long as the veteran meets the minimum eligibility requirements and has the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the particular position.

Appointment or Retention in Positions of Employment

Preference shall be given pursuant to the following:

Those disabled veterans who:

		1.	have served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, have been separated there from under honorable conditions, and have established the present existence of a service-connected disability which is compensable under public laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs; or
		2.	are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension by reason of public laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Defense.

	B.	The spouse of any person who has a total disability, permanent in nature, resulting from a service-connected disability and who, because of this disability, cannot qualify for employment, and the spouse of any person missing in action, captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
	C.	A veteran of any war as defined in F.S. 1.01(14). The veteran must have served at least one (1) day during a wartime period to be eligible for veterans' preference. Active duty for training shall not be allowed for eligibility under this paragraph.
	D.	The un-remarried widow or widower of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability.

Preference in employment and retention may be given only to eligible persons who are described above and who are residents of this State.

In all positions in which the appointment or employment of persons is not subject to a written examination, first preference in appointment, employment, and retention process shall be given to persons included under "A", and "B", and second preference shall be given to persons included under "C" and "D" above, who possess the minimum qualifications necessary to discharge the duties of the position involved.

A disabled veteran employed as the result of being placed at the top of the appropriate employment list shall be appointed for a probationary period. At the end of such period, if the work of the veteran has been satisfactorily performed, the veteran will acquire regular employment status and will be subject to the employment rules of the District.

Re-instatement or Re-employment

When a Board administrator has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and is discharged or separated therefrom with an honorable discharge, the Board shall reemploy or reinstate such person to the same position that s/he held prior to such service in the Armed Forces, or to an equivalent position, provided such person returns to the position within one (1) year of his/her date of separation or, in the case of extended active duty, within one (1) year of the date of discharge or separation subsequent to the extension.

Such person shall also be awarded preference in promotion and shall be promoted ahead of all others who are as well qualified or less qualified for the position.

The District shall reemploy or reinstate the person who was a veteran when employed by the District and who was recalled to extended active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and was discharged or separated therefrom with an honorable discharge to the same position that s/he held prior to service in the Armed Forces, or to an equivalent position, provided the person returns to the position within one (1) year of his/her date of separation or, in the case of extended active duty, within one (1) year of the date of discharge or separation subsequent to the extension. The person shall also be awarded preference in promotion and shall be promoted ahead of all others who are as well qualified or less qualified for the position. For the purposes of this section, "extended active duty" means active duty, other than for training, beyond the date of honorable discharge or separation, due to military requirements.

The provisions in the preceding two (2) paragraphs pertaining to persons who are reemployed or reinstated shall apply only to a veteran's first promotion after reinstatement or reemployment, without exception.

F.S. 1.01(14), 110.2135, 295.07, 295.08, 295.085, 295.09

Adopted 11/2/10
Revised 3/20/12