Staff
The quality of any day care center is a direct reflection of its staff. First Environments Early Learning Center recognizes its employees as the center's most valuable component. The FEELC personnel policies reflect the respect felt for staff as professionals and provide a basis for understanding and meeting the needs of both the Center and the families. For this reason, we are committed to providing a working environment that exemplifies cooperation and support.
PREFACE
The quality of any day care center is a direct reflection on its staff. First Environments Early Learning Center recognizes that its employees are the Center’s most valuable component. The personnel policies contained in this Staff Handbook reflect the respect felt for staff as professionals and provides a basis for understanding and meeting the needs of the Center. First Environments is committed to providing a working environment that exemplifies cooperation and support.
First Environments recognizes a need for uniformity and consistency in stating policies related to its employees and employment practices. The value of adequate job descriptions that serve as guides for successful job performance in assigned duties is equally recognized. However, the Center always recognizes the importance of dealing with individuals and individual situations.
The Handbook is designed to answer many of your questions about the policies and procedures that apply to employment with First Environments, to serve as a reference for questions concerning Center policies as they particularly affect you, and to provide general information about the leave and other benefits we offer. This Handbook modifies and supersedes all previous personnel policies and procedures of First Environments (formal and informal). The policies and procedures contained in this Handbook are not a contract of employment, do not create contractual rights or obligations, and do not represent a binding agreement between First Environments and its employees. Flexibility to change as time and circumstances call for change is important and we reserve the right to make at any time any changes in the content or application of our policies and procedures that we deem appropriate in our sole discretion. Changes in personnel policies and procedures may be implemented even though not yet printed or inserted in the Handbook. We will attempt to provide written notice of any major change to employees or to post such a notice in a place accessible to employees prior to the effective date of the change. The latest amended version of any particular policy will be governing.
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT
Employment with First Environments is strictly at-will, which means that employees are free to leave First Environments’ service at any time and that any employee can be terminated at any time with or without notice and with or without stated cause or reason, except as prohibited by law. No person other than the Executive Director has the authority to grant an employee any contractual rights of employment or to enter into a binding agreement with the employee regarding his or her employment, whether oral or written. Any binding agreement of employment must be in writing by the Executive Director. No course of conduct or action by any person may be interpreted as creating any type of employment contract between First Environments and any employee or modifying the at-will nature of an employee’s employment with First Environments. The policies and procedures contained in this Handbook are guidelines to employment with First Environments, but they do not create contractual rights or obligations, and they are subject to all employment remaining at-will.
Staff Handbook Table of Contents
1.0 Purpose
1.1 Management Philosophy
1.2 Goals
1.43Facilities
2.00 You and Your Job
2.1. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
2.2 Accommodations of Disabilities and Other Medical Conditions
2.3 Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment
2.4 Recruitment and Selection of Personnel
2.5 Application
2.6 Hiring Procedures for Teachers, Rotating Teachers, and Administrative Staff
2.7 Employment Eligibility
2.8 Employment Status
2.9 Temporary/Seasonal Employment
2.10 Time Sheets
2.11 Transfers
2.12 Pre-employment Physical
2.13 Attendance and Care
2.14 Open Door Policy
2.15 Drug and Alcohol Policy
2.16 Job Descriptions
2.17 Probationary Period
3.00 Paydays and Distribution of Checks
3.0 Pay Periods
3.1 Salary Range
3.2 Promotions
3.3 Overtime Pay
3.4 Annual Review of Performance
3.5 Annual Review of Program
3.6 Salary Increases Based on Performance
3.7 Unsatisfactory Employment Review
4.0 Examples of Behaviors Subject to Disciplinary Action
4.1 Dismissal Policies
4.2 Appeal of Dismissal
4.3 Resignation
4.4 Requirements Upon Leaving First Environments
5.0 Workweek and Hours of Employees
5.1 Lunch Breaks
5.2 Expenses
5.3 Staff Training or Instructional Expenses
5.4 Travel
5.5 Dress
5.6 Personal Property
5.7 Weapons and Violence Prevention
5.8 Outside Employment
5.9 Personnel Records
5.10Confidential Information
5.11 Communication Systems
5.12 Telephones
5.13 Cell Phone Usage
5.14 No Solicitation and No Distribution
6.0 Curriculum Objectives
6.1 Development Observations
6.2 Planning
6.3 Classroom Transitions
6.4 Ratios and Supervision
6.5 Maintenance of Equipment and Materials
6.6 Behavior Management Policy
6.7 Health and Safety Policies
6.8 Instructions for Sick Children
6.9 Medication and Medication Forms
6.10 Staff Medication
6.11 Medical or Dental Emergencies
6.12 Universal Precautions
6.13 Adult Hand Washing Hygiene Policy
6.14 Under Immunized Children
6.15 Diapering/Toilet Training
6.16 Infant Feeding/Handling Breast Milk
7.0 Emergency Preparedness
7.1 Fire Drills
7.2 Tornado Drills
7.3 Inclement Weather Policy
7.4 Accidents
7.5 Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect
8.00 Staff- Parent Relationships
8.0 Parent Relationships
8.1 Staff Relationships
8.2 Staff Meetings
8.3 Acceptable Media Policy
9.00 Daily Operations of the Center
9.0 Admissions
9.1 Developmental Delays/Other Special Needs
9.2 Hours of Operation
9.3 Arrival and Departure of Children
9.4 Meals and the Child Care Food Program
9.5 Playground Rules
11.0 Paid Time Off
11.1 Personal Leave Time
11.2 Bereavement Leave
11.3 Military Leave
11.4 School Leave
11.5 Holidays
11.6 Jury Duty
11.7 Community Service
11.8 Personal Leaves of Absence
11.9 Family Medical Leave Act
12.0 Employee Assistance Program
12.1 Reduction in Work Hours for Long-term Employees
Last updated: 2/18/2026