Employee Handbook
The Fidelis Consulting Handbook details our policies, regulations and requirements for the substitute teachers on our team.
The Fidelis Consulting Handbook details our policies, regulations and requirements for the substitute teachers on our team.
Dear Substitute Teacher or Educational Assistant,
Welcome to Fidelis Consulting, the Substitute Teacher service for Stevens Point Area Public School District. We are pleased that you have joined the outstanding cadre of men and women who are employed as Substitutes with Fidelis for the Stevens Point School District. Your position is extremely important because you are the person who is entrusted with the academic and social wellness of the students in the absence of their regular Teachers or Educational Assistants.
Your acceptance of the role of Substitute Teacher or Educational Assistant is an indication of your dedication to ensure that the youth in the Stevens Point schools have continuity in their education programs. The dedication will be reflected in professional behavior as evidenced by your promptness, appearance, speech, preparation and respect for all students. Holding high expectations for every student; being firm, but fair, gathering and using information from communicating with the staff about your accomplishments and concerns, on a timely basis, will ensure you and the students have a productive and enjoyable experience.
Although students are our first concern, we are also interested in your success and continued achievements. The position of Substitute Teacher or Educational Assistant can be a major factor in your career development. Many of our Substitute Teachers go on to become full-time certified Teachers. When openings become available in the District, Substitute Teachers are often the first people the schools recommend for consideration. You can be sure that your performance will be noted by the Principal, Teachers and the Fidelis staff. Therefore, we want you to view your work as rewarding and developmental.
Whenever you have any questions, concerns or good news to share, please give us a call or send us an email.
Respectfully yours,
Tammy Rosenberg
President – Fidelis Consulting
The Inception of Fidelis Consulting
Some might wonder – why the company is called Fidelis Consulting Service. There is actually a logical explanation behind the name. Owner, Tammy Rosenberg, worked for over 30 years in the staffing industry, the last 15 specifically in the education arena. She developed a system for recruiting, screening, hiring and placing Substitute Teachers/Assistants and Special Education Substitute Teachers/Assistants. She was also known for cultivating strong partnerships with school personnel and creating lasting bonds through her customer rapport. Fidelis is a Latin word that means faithful or loyal, similar to that of the United States Marine Corp – Semper Fidelis – always faithful. Stevens Point Area Public School District reached out to Tammy, and after a few months of collaborating, in September of 2021, Fidelis Consulting Service became the Substitute Teacher placement service for the District!
As a Substitute Teacher/Educational Assistant, you will be contacted by Frontline (an automated substitute calling system). Frontline will attempt to offer you job assignments. You can also access Frontline over the internet or via an app for your cell phone. Frontline will attempt to contact you throughout the day until 10:00pm, unless you have identified yourself as unavailable. If you have questions as it relates to an open assignment or particular school/Teacher please contact our Fidelis office at Email: fidelisdispatch@pointschools.net.
Substitute Teachers and Educational Assistants should arrive at the assigned school 15 – 20 minutes prior to the start of school, unless instructed otherwise. It is very important to arrive on time, if you are continuously late, you will be removed from the substitute pool.
At Fidelis we understand there may be times when you are sick or have a personal emergency.
In the event you have to cancel your position for the day please contact Fidelis immediately.
Fidelis must be notified of your absence at least 2 hours prior to your scheduled job.
You can call the Fidelis managers and leave a message. Contact the school you are scheduled to work for and notify them of your absence as well, leaving a voicemail.
Summer School Opportunities
The Stevens Point Area Public School District offers summer school opportunities for both Teachers and Substitute Teachers. All hiring is conducted during the spring and early summer for those positions. If you are interested in applying for summer school, please contact Human Resources at the Bliss Center at (715) 345-5456 for more information.
When on duty, Substitute Teachers or Educational Assistants must conform to the Stevens Point School District’s rules and regulations. As substitutes, while working in a specific school or building, you are under the direct supervision of the building Principal or designee. It is your responsibility to determine the rules and regulations at the school assigned. When in doubt, ask the Principal or the building Secretary for assistance.
Credentials needed to become a Substitute Teacher for the Stevens Point Area Public School District are as follows: Must obtain Substitute Teaching License through DPI, complete DPI standard criminal background investigation.
Special Education – Educational Assistants must obtain the special education assistant certification through DPI as well as the DPI standard for criminal background investigation.
We also have a partnership with STEDI to complete your Sub Skills and Mandated Reporting, prior to employment which is required by the state of Wisconsin.
Upon accepting an assignment from Frontline or staff of Fidelis, you should report to the main office of the assigned school building. Immediately upon arrival at the school, you should sign in with the building Secretary.
You may expect to find the following ready for you when you report for the day:
In the event that these items are not available, notify the building office and seek assistance in preparing for the day’s activities.
You should attempt to follow the lesson plan as closely as possible so that the instructional program of the regular teacher may proceed as effectively as possible under the circumstances. Try to avoid changing the regular classroom routine as much as possible as it will make your day easier.
Please turn in any reports to the building office, along with any keys or other items given to you for the day. Also, please sign out at the front desk before leaving the school.
Substitute Teachers and Educational Assistants working through Fidelis at the District, are covered by Social Security. Deductions will be made for Social Security along with Federal and State Tax withholding. The amount of the tax withholding deduction is determined by your Federal and Wisconsin Form W-4 which you completed with Fidelis.
You will be paid weekly, with a one-week delay. Any questions related to pay, hours, missing hours, etc. should be directed to Tammy Rosenberg at 414-429-4888. We strongly encourage you to set up direct deposit as your means for obtaining your weekly paycheck.
All tax information and pay rates are housed in the Paychex system. You will be given a password to access your account within Paychex which allows you to view your W-4, I-9, payroll history, direct deposit and more. Your substitute licenses, training certifications, and application will be housed in Paychex as well for easy access.
Pay rates for the 2023 – 2024 school year for Stevens Point Area Public School District are as follows:
Substitute Teacher – $17.50/hour or $140 per day
Retired Substitute Teacher – $18.75/hour or $150 per day
(Stevens Point Area Public School District Only)
Long Term Substitute – $28.75/hour or $230 per day
Special Education – Educational Assistant $15.00/hour
Long Term Special Education – Educational Assistant $15.50/hour
Substitute Special Education Position (With a Short Term Substitute Teaching License) – $15.75/hour
Substitute Special Education Position (With a Teaching, Initial Educator, Provisional, Lifetime or One Year with Stipulations License) – $17.50/hour
Retired Teacher Special Education Position – $18.75/hour
Reasonable Assurance – Indicates that an employee working for the school district, even through a third-party contractor such as Fidelis Consulting has a contract (written or implied). This indicates they will be likely be employed for the following school year, term which eliminates the potential of collecting unemployment compensation.
All Substitute Teachers, Educational Assistants, candidates or any other employees working for
Fidelis Consulting at Stevens Point Area Public School District are hereby notified that Fidelis Consulting does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its assignments.
The Stevens Point Area Public School District, along with Fidelis Consulting, prohibits any and all forms of harassment and unlawful discrimination against any protected category listed above. It shall be a violation of this policy for any student, teacher, administrator, Fidelis staff or other school personnel to harass or unlawfully discriminate against any student or school personnel including Substitute Teachers and Educational Assistants through conduct of a sexual nature or regarding any protected category as defined by the Policy.
Fidelis has established grievance procedures for persons unable to resolve problems. Please contact our Fidelis office, at fidelisdispatch@pointschools.net or Tammy Rosenberg, at 414-429-4888 for immediate resolution.
Fidelis substitute employees are expected to dress professionally on a daily basis in order to set an appropriate example for students, coworkers, and the general public.
Employee attire and grooming must enhance and promote and not detract from the learning/educational environment of students in their classes, school programs, school-related activities, the environment of coworkers, and the environment and success of any activity taking place at any time in any District facility, grounds, or site.
For some positions, protective clothing and/or equipment must be worn during certain activities.
Know the Teacher’s name, assignment position and duration.
When arriving, go immediately to the main office for directions and to pick up any necessary materials for the day that haven’t been attached in Frontline. They will be able to tell you where your classroom is located, the bathrooms, break rooms and will give you a “Guest Staff” ID badge.
Emergency procedures are posted in every classroom. Reach out to familiarize yourself with your neighboring Teachers.
You may be asked to cover recess or bus duty for elementary schools, or study hall or hall duty in the middle and high schools. Any open or free periods, if not sure, ask in the main office.
Check with the main office or a neighboring Teacher as it relates to bathroom breaks for students and staff, sending students to their lockers, library or the office. Dismissal of students.
Close and lock any classroom doors and windows.
Close any blinds and turn off all lights.
Relocate students to a corner of the classroom out of the line of sight from all windows and doors.
Do not open the door for anyone. You will be notified when all is clear.
If you are injured while working as a substitute, through Fidelis, on school premises, you must report the injury immediately to the building Principal or office Secretary. You must also call the Fidelis Office as soon as possible, and report the injury as well.
If medical attention is needed, Fidelis must be notified in order to authorize treatment. If this is a medical emergency, the school will call 911 and inform Fidelis of the situation. The school and Fidelis staff will complete an injury report form within 24 hours of the work-related injury. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact the Fidelis office at email: fidlisdispatch@pointschools.net.
The unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on school premises or as part of school activities is strictly prohibited.
Fidelis employees under the influence of alcohol, drugs or controlled substances while on duty are a serious risk to themselves, students and other school personnel. Fidelis employees who display physical manifestations of drug or alcohol use while on duty, may be subject to drug testing. Any employee who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Fidelis Consulting, along with the Board of Education, recognizes that smoking represents a health and safety hazard which can have serious consequences for the smoker and the non-smoker alike. Our belief is that it is our obligation to protect students, staff, employees, visitors and guests of the District from an environmental hazard which may be harmful to them. All buildings, grounds and vehicles on the District premises are to be smoke-free and the use, sale, transfer and/or possession of tobacco products at all school activities is expressly prohibited.
For the purpose of this policy, smoking will mean all uses of tobacco, including cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and smokeless tobacco items.
Random and Post Accident Drug Testing Procedures
This policy describes the procedures for conducting random and post- accident drug testing of employees in its efforts to maintain a safe and drug-free workplace.
Fidelis Consulting will randomly drug-test employees for compliance with its drug-free workplace policy on an as-needed basis. Any employee involved in an accident while working on premise at a Stevens Point Area Public School location will be sent for a drug test. Random or post-accident testing means employees will be asked to adhere to a 10-panel drug test if suspicion of alcohol and/or illegal drug use is suspected while on the job and/or on any Stevens Point Area Public School District designated premises.
Employees will be tested for their use of commonly abused controlled substances, which include amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, cannabinoids, cocaine, methadone, methaqualone, phencyclidine (PCP), propoxyphene and chemical derivatives of these substances.
Employees must advise the testing lab of all prescription drugs taken in the past month before the test and must be prepared to show proof of such prescriptions upon request.
All testing will be conducted by a licensed independent medical laboratory, which will follow testing standards established by the state or federal government. Testing will be conducted on a urine sample provided by the employee to the testing laboratory under procedures established by the laboratory to ensure the privacy of the employee, while also protecting against tampering with or alteration of test results.
Fidelis Consulting will pay for the cost of the initial testing, including the confirmation of any positive test results. The testing lab will retain samples in accordance with state law, so that an employee may request a retest of the sample at his or her own expense, if the employee disagrees with the test result.
If an employee tests positive on an initial screening test, the employee will be temporarily suspended while the confirmation test is being conducted. A positive test result confirmed by a medical review officer of the laboratory will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Discipline selected by Fidelis Consulting will depend on a variety of factors, including the prior work record of the employee, the length of employment, the prior accident and attendance record of the employee, the circumstances that led to the testing and proposals by the employee to address the problem.
All records concerning test results will be kept by Fidelis Consulting in medical files that are maintained separately from employee personnel files. Employees have a right to obtain copies of all test results from the testing laboratory or Fidelis.
Employees may request a retest of their positive test results within five working days after notification of a positive test result. This retest is at the expense of the individual, unless the original test result is called into question by the retest.
The purpose of this policy is to assure a safe school environment for students, staff and the public. It provides for clear understanding of intent, expectations, and parameters for all Fidelis substitute employees. It also provides for strict rules of enforcement and consequences for weapons violation in cooperation with law enforcement authorities and according to state and federal laws.
No Fidelis employee shall possess, use or distribute a weapon when in a school building or on any school premises. Fidelis Consulting will act to enforce this policy and to discipline or take appropriate action against any Substitute Teacher or Educational Assistant who violates this policy.
A “weapon” means any object, device or instrument designed as a weapon or through its use is capable of threatening or producing bodily harm or which may be used to inflict self-injury including, but not limited to, any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; air guns; pellet guns; BB guns; fake (facsimile) weapons; all knives; blades; clubs; metal knuckles; num-chucks; throwing stars; explosives; fireworks; mace and other propellants; stun guns; ammunition; poisons; chains; arrows; and objects that have been modified to serve as a weapon.
No person shall possess, use or distribute any object, device or instrument having the appearance of a weapon and such objects, devices or instruments shall be treated as weapons including, but not limited to, weapons listed above which are broken or nonfunctional, look-alike guns; toy guns; and any object that is a facsimile of a real weapon.
Library, Media and Technology Services
The internet expands classroom and library media center resources by making information, images and even computer software from places otherwise inaccessible, available to students, teachers, librarians, media specialists and substitutes. Access to these resources can yield individual and group projects, collaboration, curriculum materials and idea sharing.
This policy requires that all instructional and library media materials support and enrich the curriculum while considering the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities and developmental levels of students.
Any misuse or inappropriate use of the internet will result in disciplinary action up to termination. All use of the internet for classroom interaction must be approved by the regular Teacher and/or building Principal.
Employees are expected to exercise responsible behavior when on the network and only use computers for educational material suitable to a school setting. Employees who use the systems inappropriately may be subject to loss of access privileges and other appropriate discipline. Inappropriate uses include, but are not limited to:
Occasional personal use of the Internet and email is permitted, but limited to times which do not interfere with the employee’s position responsibilities. Communication over District networks is not considered private. The District reserves the right to review, audit, intercept, monitor, access, disclose, copy and/or download any communication created, transmitted, or maintained on any of the District’s computer or electronic communication systems.
Substitute Teachers are in a high-risk occupation, and states that “any physical contact with students presents a risk to the teacher or staff member.” It goes on to explain that contact can be misinterpreted by:
Misinterpretation can lead to:
If found guilty of complaints or charges then employment can be terminated. The no touch policy stipulates the situations when physical contact may be required:
It is advised that physical contact should be restricted to these times, though be aware that with “any type of physical contact between staff member and child there is an inherent risk that it can be construed as abuse” If a child initiates physical contact in the seeking of affection, reassurance or comfort it is appropriate to respond. It is not appropriate to force unwanted affection or touching on a child.
In addition, Substitute Teachers should always be visible when working with children, and should never be alone with a child or children.
Fidelis substitute employees are expected to create an atmosphere that will nurture and fulfill the potential of each student, leading to student achievement. Substitutes are responsible for quality practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, parents, and community members. All employees are expected to work together in a cooperative spirit to serve the best interests of the District.
Fidelis Substitutes are expected to observe the following code of conduct examples, including, but non-exhaustive:
All Fidelis substitute employees must perform their duties in accordance with state and federal law, Board policy, Employee Handbook and ethical standards. Failure to follow procedures stated above and/or contained in Board policy, Fidelis Employee Handbook, and state and federal law may be cause for disciplinary action.
The District recognizes the serious school, family and societal problems associated with child abuse and neglect. Wisconsin law requires school employees to report all suspected incidents of child abuse and/or neglect to the proper authorities within the community.
All District employees having reasonable cause to suspect that a student, seen in the course of the employee’s professional duties, has been abused, threatened, or neglected, shall immediately inform, by telephone or personally, the Portage County Health and Human Services Department at (715) 345-5350, as mandated by law, and then the direct supervisor/principal. The oral report given to the agency shall include the name and age of the student, the student’s home address, the parent/guardian’s name or other person(s) responsible for the student’s care, and the circumstances surrounding the suspected abuse or neglect.
If the Portage County Health and Human Services Department is closed, the Portage County Sheriff’s Department (715) 346-1400 or police department shall be contacted. It is not the responsibility of school personnel to prove the student has been abused or neglected, only to report the suspected case(s).
Employees are responsible for using personal communication devices (PCD’s) in a safe and appropriate manner and in accordance with this policy, as well as other pertinent policies and guidelines within this Fidelis Employee handbook. This includes using a PCD that may be owned by the District, Fidelis Consulting or personally-owned (regardless of whether Fidelis pays the employee an allowance for the use of the device, Fidelis reimburses the employee or the employee receives no remuneration).
Conducting business for the District or Fidelis using a PCD
Employees are permitted to use a PCD to make/receive calls, send/receive emails, send/receive text messages, and send/receive instant messages that concern Stevens Point Area Public School District and/or Fidelis business of any kind. Employees are responsible for archiving such communication in accordance with District and/or Fidelis requirements. PCD communication sent and/or received by a Fidelis Substitute employee using a PCD may constitute as public records. Additionally, PCD communications about students sent and/or received by a Fidelis substitute employee using a PCD may constitute as education records if the content includes personally identifiable information about a student.
Safe and appropriate use of a PCD
Employees are prohibited from using a PCD while operating a vehicle while commuting to/from a District school in the capacity of a traveling substitute teacher, meaning they travel to multiple schools within the duration of the day.
Employees may not use a PCD in a way that might reasonably create in the mind of another person the impression of being threatened, humiliated, harassed, embarrassed or intimidated. Substitute employees shall limit communications to matters within the scope of the employee’s professional responsibilities.
Consider carefully student and staff interactions on private social media accounts. It is recommended that Substitute employees not friend or follow students on social media. District approved sites or pages are preferred and provide openness, visibility and accessibility.
Employees shall limit communications to matters within the scope of the employee’s professional responsibilities. Upon request from Administration and/or Fidelis, a substitute employee will provide the phone number(s), social network site(s) or other information regarding the method(s) of electronic media the employee uses to communicate with any current student, teacher and/or parents or guardians.
Substitute employees shall not electronically record by audio, video, or other means, any image or conversations at meetings or in the classroom unless each and every person present has been notified and consents to being electronically recorded.
Substitute employees are subject to all applicable policies and guidelines pertaining to protection of the security, integrity and availability of the data stored on a PCD, regardless of whether they are District-owned and to a specific substitute employee or personally-owned by the substitute employee.
Use of a PCD in any manner contrary to the District, Fidelis, local, State or Federal laws may result in disciplinary action up to and including unpaid suspension and/or termination by Fidelis.
Tammy Rosenberg, Owner of Fidelis Consulting Service, has over thirty years’ experience in the staffing industry. Her knowledge in human resources, acquiring talent, sourcing candidates and capabilities in the education arena has continuously proven to be successful. Because of her expertise and ability to manage operations, she has been profitable since the inception of Fidelis in 2020. Her loyalty, commitment and compassion to her staff, clients and employees is the reason she named the company Fidelis.