Affirmative Action Plan

The Ankeny Community School District is committed to providing equal opportunity to employees and applicants for employment in accordance with applicable laws, directives and regulations. Specifically, it is the district’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity and not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or marital status in its employment and personnel practices. To that end, the district actively works to ensure all employees and applicants for employment are treated fairly and equitably in hiring, placement, promotion, transfer or demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and layoff or termination.

Additionally, the district will take affirmative action in major job categories where women, men, minorities and persons with disabilities are underrepresented. This action includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that:

• Compensation, benefits and district-sponsored activities and programs are administered on an equal opportunity basis, and that the district does not discriminate against any individual because of a physical or mental handicap or because of disabled veteran status.
• Employment advertisements assure applicants and prospects that the Ankeny Community School District is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action and all employment and recruiting sources are reminded of the district’s policy.
• Posting notices in appropriate locations to inform applicants and employees of their rights under federal and state civil rights laws.
• Utilizing the district’s internal human resources and business procedures software to confidentially and lawfully maintain records related to the demographic characteristics of applicants for employment and those who work for the district.
• Reporting out on staff demographic metrics to the board and the community on an annual basis and as otherwise requested by board leadership.

The district believes such action helps to ensure the hire of the best candidate, to provide students with diverse role models, to combat stereotypes and inequities, and to foster the success of a rapidly growing and evolving school community. Employees receive notice of the district’s equal opportunity/affirmative action message, policy and procedures annually via the staff handbook, the review of which is required at the start of each school year. Additionally, employees may access these policies on-demand at any time via the district’s website; district leaders publicize the policies and discuss them at staff meetings, when appropriate. The district requires that employees comply with the district’s established equal employment opportunity and affrrmative action policies and investigates alleged violations thereof.