Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I locate MPS vacancies?
A: Vacancies are listed on our Human Resource Vacancy page under “Job Openings.” Certified categories are generally for trained educators with at least a bachelor’s degree; the other categories are generally for applicants with non-educator backgrounds.
Q: How do I apply for a job?
A: You will need to submit an application for employment. Applications are available on our Website or you can visit the Human Resource Office in the Central Office.
Q: What is the difference between Certified and Classified vacancies?
A: Certified vacancies are those that require a Teaching Certificate. Classified vacancies are all other vacancies that require no certificate except for Paraprofessionals/Special Education Aides who must meet the requirements for Highly Qualified status.
Q: Will I be contacted for an interview?
A: First, we review your applications. If you are qualified for the position, your application will be referred to the principal or department head where the vacancy exists. The principal or department head will contact you for an interview. DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS, NOT EVERYONE REFERRED TO THE PRINCIPAL OR DEPARTMENT HEAD WILL BE INTERVIEWED.
Q: What is the status of my application?
A: Your application is submitted to the job posting for which you applied. It remains active for a period of one year. If there is no activity within 1 full year, your application is then placed in the inactive file for a period of 3 years. You may re-activate your application by contacting the Human Resources Office in writing any time before the three year inactive period expires. You do not have to reapply for each position in which you are interested; a letter of interest referencing that position is sufficient.
Q: I submitted an application but have not yet heard back. Who should I contact?
A: Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond personally to all applicants. You may contact us by phone to ascertain your status at any time.
Q: When should an on-the-job injury be reported?
A: An injury should be reported only when the injury occurs during the normal performance of the assigned duties of an employee. The injury must be reported to the employee’s immediate supervisor within 24 hours of the incident on an Injury Report Form completed by the employee or his/her designee. If time is lost from work and/or the injury requires medical treatment, an Injury Claim Report and medical documentation must be submitted to Human Resources to facilitate processing.
Q: Are Montgomery Public School employees covered by Workmen’s Compensation?
A: No. Claims for lost wages or out-of-pocket expenses beyond the employees’ health insurance coverage due to on-the-job injuries may be submitted to the Alabama State Board of Adjustment for consideration.
Q: When can the Family and Medical Leave Act (FLMA) be used?
A: Employees who have worked for Montgomery Public Schools for a minimum of one (1) year are eligible to take up to 12 work weeks of extended medical leave during a 12-month period (July 1 through June 30) after exhausting all other leave available to them. Employer health insurance co-payments will be continued during leave under the FMLA. Leave under the FMLA must be requested and approved in advance. The FMLA covers health insurance payments only and does not cover absences or accompanying loss of salary.
Q: When should an illness Leave of Absence Form be requested?
A: An employee should report an extended illness to his supervisor as soon as the need to do so becomes evident. If the absence is to extend beyond a two-week period (10 days), a Leave of Absence Form must be completed and submitted along with a doctor’s statement to the employee’s supervisor. The principal/supervisor then routes the form to the Office of Human Resources for disposition.
Q: Are long-term substitutes for a teacher on a leave-of-absence required to be certified?
A: Yes. If a certified teacher is not available, temporary emergency personnel may be used while we continue to look for a certified applicant.
Q: What is the Substitute Employee Management System (SEMS)?
A: SEMS is an automated system for managing employee absences. All Montgomery Public Schools employees who are absent from work are required to register that absence through SEMS. If the employee has filed paperwork for a leave of absence, no additional day-to-day reporting to SEMS is required until that leave of absence ends.
Q: When should detached duty requests be submitted to Human Resources?
A: Primarily when expenditures such as travel, workshop registration fees, or the cost of a substitute is involved. A documented trail for re-imbursement must be established. It also serves as good documentation for CEU credits for re-certification applications.
Q: What constitutes job abandonment?
A: When an employee is absent from his/her job for five (5) consecutive days without notifying his/her supervisor or calling the SEMS line to report the absences, this constitutes job abandonment. When this happens, supervisors notify the Office of Human Resources so that a certified letter may be sent to the employee.
Q: How often are certification renewals required?
A: The State of Alabama requires renewals every five years for professional certificates. Alternative Baccalaureate or Alternative Masters’ Certificates are renewable annually to a maximum of three years.
Q: What is the current status of the highly qualified (HQ) requirement for Montgomery Public School employees?
A: All teachers of core area subjects are required to be HQ by August 14, 2006, which is the first day of classes for students. Please remember that certified employees are required to be HQ for each core area which they teach.
Q: What constitutes a legal transfer?
A: Teachers can be transferred from one school, grade, or position for the next succeeding school year by mutual agreement or by recommendation to the board by the superintendent as long as the transfer does not violate a written contract nor is made for political or personal reasons.
Q: How late in the school year can a transfer be made?
A: Transfers which are not by mutual agreement should be completed (employee notified in writing) prior to July 1. On an emergency temporary basis, teachers may be transferred involuntarily 15 days before or after the first day of school to meet unanticipated needs of the system. When this is necessary, the transfer order of priority is volunteers first, non-tenured/probationary employees next, and lastly tenured employees in reverse order of position tenure.
Q: How do I resign from MPS?
A: An employee who wishes to resign should submit a letter of resignation to his/her immediate supervisor to be routed to Human Resources for disposition. The letter should include the employee’s name, social security number, current address, current assignment, and the reason for leaving. Generally an employee’s resignation request will be granted when a replacement has been located. However, a written release is required during the school year or within 45 days of the beginning of the school year.