You are invited to review the proposed new classified employee competencies and offer your feedback through a short survey. Please respond by Wednesday, May 13.

The competency review group has been receiving classified employee feedback since March through meetings, focus groups, and a survey. As we sought to organize the many comments and suggestions, we remained focused on our primary goals: to ensure alignment with the mission, vision and values of both divisions, and to create a new, streamlined set of competencies that makes it easier for classified employees to answer the “how do they relate to my actual job?” question.

The committee agreed to start with the values of both the school and local government divisions as our organizing principles and see how we could group or prioritize the desired traits and qualities. We then realized that, because our employee feedback was so consistent, we could actually take those values—community, stewardship, learning, integrity, and innovation/leadership—and use them as our competencies.

Next steps in the process:

• Continue tweaking the proposed set of competencies as we receive feedback.
• Update the performance evaluation tool in light of the new competencies (for next year).
• Develop training for employees and supervisors on what the new competencies mean for all of us and how to use them as part of the performance management process.
• Plan for updates to how we hire, train and reward employees.

As we move closer to finalizing the competencies, you will receive lots more information about all these changes and forthcoming training. Thanks again for your continued engagement in this important project.