BackyardGardener

Hi all. I'm set to start my new school nurse job this fall, but a situation came up about my contract, and I'm not sure what I think about it. Would just like to get some other opinions. I'm not sure how it is throughout the US, but in my school district (a large district in Texas), we need to sign a contract as part of the employment. I'm not due to sign for a couple of weeks so I haven't seen the contract, but I assume it speaks of compensation, working hours and dates, expectations, and such. The communication I have received from HR is that my first date on contract will be Aug 15. However, I am needed to go in a week before that to be there for registration. That week is actually off-contract. I received a vague response from HR when I asked for clarification, and it seems to me that I won't actually be an official employee that first week.....though going to registration is required. Compensation for that time, since not under contract, is addressed through the possibility of comp days later. So, two issues.....actually being an employee, and compensation. Any thoughts? I myself am not sure what to think... Is this a glitchy district thing that I deal with, or does it bode poorly for long-term expectations and HR policies? Thanks!

Thank you all for the feedback! My first interview with the director went well, and I move on to principal interview. I was able to incorporate some of these questions into my interview, and it was very helpful! Thank you!

Hi there---new to this site. Very glad to have found it. I have a elementary school nurse position scheduled next week. I've been reading on this forum questions I might expect to be asked......but I am wondering about intelligent questions that *I* should ask during the interview. What do you wish you had asked or known before you were hired? I have never worked in a school before, and I feel like I don't know what I don't know, so consequently not sure what questions I should be asking to feel out if this is really the best fit for me. I'm an experienced RN (emergency, health dept immunization branch, and case management) but have been a stay at home mom for the past couple of years. I've been a parent volunteer in my kids' elementary school clinic for several hours a week for the past year working with that RN who also provided a recommendation for me, so I have an idea of what the job entails, but a parent volunteer obviously isn't the same thing as a full time position---and I'm not interviewing for that school either. I'm most nervous about being isolated from professional peers or ending up with an unpleasant principal or teachers. My interview will be with the Health Services Director. My understanding is that if I do well there, I will meet with a school principal for a separate interview. There are openings at 3 elem schools in my district. I really want to do this, but it is important to me that's it's a good fit. So, in retrospect, what questions do you wish you had asked during your interview?