A study of the point-factor job evaluation process used in the Des Moines, Iowa Public School District

This research examines the point-factor job evaluation model used for the Des Moines Public School District\u27s (DMPSD) administrative job evaluation An independent consulting firm (i.e., job evaluation consultant) was hired to provide technical expertise and assistance for the administrative job evaluation. The DMPSD selected six administrators (five certificated and one noncertificated) to form the job evaluation committee (JEC) to perform the evaluations for certificated and noncertificated administrative jobs. This committee was trained in the job evaluation method by the consultant;A point-factor survey (PFC survey) and follow-up interviews with the JEC members were used to examine the five major components of the job evaluation model, which were: the position questionnaire; the training and practice sessions; the interviews; the role of the consultant; and the group work evaluation scoring. The PFC survey consisted of 37 questions, subcategorized into five sections (representing the five components) and a section for comments. The follow-up interviews of the JEC members were conducted individually to elicit further information from the PFC survey. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed;The results from the survey and interviews were analyzed and suggestions were submitted for improving the model. (1) The selection of two administrative job evaluation committees (five certificated and five noncertificated administrators); and (2) In-depth interview training for the JEC members by the consultant. Implications of these changes are: (1) Separating one job evaluation committee (with both certificated and noncertificated administrators) into two separate committees to give each group equality and autonomy. (2) In-depth interview training for the JEC members to provide them skills needed to elicit significant information from the interviewees for the job evaluation scoring. Other changes suggested were: (1) A large meeting for all DMPSD administrators with a sponsor presiding to discuss the job evaluation process and end results. (2) Group interviews (all the JEC members with each administrator). (3) Locations moved for interviews and evaluation scoring. (4) Use of audio-visuals to streamline the job evaluation process

Linking Food Insecure Patients With Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Food insecurity screening is needed to link food insecure patients to interventions that will help improve their nutrition and overall health such as annual community supported agriculture (CSA) shares. In Vermont, food insecurity is widespread, as 76% of Vermonters experience some level of food insecurity. This has serious health consequences. Food insecure patients are more likely to suffer from hypertension and diabetes than non-food insecure patients. Clinicians need to screen for and detect food insecurity. Several methods are available, yet clinician awareness varies. Providers can rely upon predictive metrics that utilize patient characteristics or simple question-based screening tools. This study found that physicians and physician assistants are prefer to screen for food insecurity using an established 2-item screen. However, they tend to underestimate the prevalence of food insecurity in the community in which they practice.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1176/thumbnail.jp

Reflections on Trauma: A Phenomenological Qualitative Secondary Analysis of Archived Interviews about Adolescent Experiences During the 1970 Kent State Student Shootings

Among short-term mental health consequences for adolescents who have proximate or direct experience with mass shootings in school settings are posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder. Identifying incidence of enduring mental health impacts is challenging due to difficulty of tracking individuals into adulthood. The purpose of this paper is to use qualitative secondary analysis to explore how seven individuals reflectively describe and interpret their lived experiences as adolescents during the May 4, 1970, Kent State University Vietnam protest that resulted in deaths and injuries to students fired upon by Ohio National Guard. Archived transcripts from interviews conducted up to 48 years after the event were analyzed using a phenomenological qualitative approach. Aspects of common experience included confusion, emotionally charged responses from others directed toward community members following the event, and belief the experience had a profound and lasting impact on their lives, exemplified by vivid memories of minute details and comparative responses to other events. These findings illustrate how others’ reactions and subsequent incidents contribute to retraumatization into adult years. This report demonstrates the value of qualitative secondary analysis in general, while specific findings illustrate long-term impact of an adolescent trauma experience

A study of the point-factor job evaluation process used in the Des Moines, Iowa Public School District

This research examines the point-factor job evaluation model used for the Des Moines Public School District's (DMPSD) administrative job evaluation An independent consulting firm (i.e., job evaluation consultant) was hired to provide technical expertise and assistance for the administrative job evaluation. The DMPSD selected six administrators (five certificated and one noncertificated) to form the job evaluation committee (JEC) to perform the evaluations for certificated and noncertificated administrative jobs. This committee was trained in the job evaluation method by the consultant;A point-factor survey (PFC survey) and follow-up interviews with the JEC members were used to examine the five major components of the job evaluation model, which were: the position questionnaire; the training and practice sessions; the interviews; the role of the consultant; and the group work evaluation scoring. The PFC survey consisted of 37 questions, subcategorized into five sections (representing the five components) and a section for comments. The follow-up interviews of the JEC members were conducted individually to elicit further information from the PFC survey. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed;The results from the survey and interviews were analyzed and suggestions were submitted for improving the model. (1) The selection of two administrative job evaluation committees (five certificated and five noncertificated administrators); and (2) In-depth interview training for the JEC members by the consultant. Implications of these changes are: (1) Separating one job evaluation committee (with both certificated and noncertificated administrators) into two separate committees to give each group equality and autonomy. (2) In-depth interview training for the JEC members to provide them skills needed to elicit significant information from the interviewees for the job evaluation scoring. Other changes suggested were: (1) A large meeting for all DMPSD administrators with a sponsor presiding to discuss the job evaluation process and end results. (2) Group interviews (all the JEC members with each administrator). (3) Locations moved for interviews and evaluation scoring. (4) Use of audio-visuals to streamline the job evaluation process.</p

China's toxic informal e-waste recycling:Local approaches to a global environmental problem

Electronic waste or e-waste has been an increasingly severe problem over the last decade, and is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. China's inexpensive labour and manufacturing abilities have already made it "the world's factory" and for e-waste recycling it is no exception. Informal workers do the majority of e-waste collection and recycling in cities throughout China. E-waste recycling work provides livelihoods for migrant workers and the urban poor and has formed a well-established shadow economy. The improper dismantling and burning of e-waste for resource recovery exposes workers to toxins and heavy metals, and causes severe air, water, and soil contamination. The illegal global trade of e-waste makes it a transboundary environmental governance problem of local and global scales. This paper investigates informal workers' knowledge of the environmental impacts of e-waste, perceptions of their work and whether they would be receptive to government regulation of recycling work. It finds that informal recyclers interviewed lack environmental awareness of the dangers related to e-waste recycling and are unwilling to be regulated due to fear of losing jobs and profits through regulation. Weak e-waste legislation and social marginalization are also major barriers to protecting e-waste recyclers and the environment. Through a scalar analysis of environmental governance, this paper proposes strengthening the roles of small enterprises and inclusion of Non Governmental Organization (NGOs) and Government Organized NGOS (GONGOs) to work in the informal sector to find safer recycling solutions to fill the large gap between legislation and de facto practices

Research Needs in Water Resources and Environment: A Panel Discussion

Practicing engineers sometimes criticize researchers for answering questions that no one is asking, or at least for conducting research on questions of personal interest or in areas that funding agencies think are important. Although such research has a place in the overall picture of things, it is instructive to consider the practical issues that engineers in the field face. The fields of water resources and environment are very broad, and only a small number of research users could be included on the panel seated by the Education and Research Council at the 2004 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress. One of the panel members pointed out that the private sector was underrepresented. We hope that a future panel will correct this problem. The PowerPoint presentations given by panel members may be accessed from the Education and Research Council’s Web site, http:// engineering.rowan.edu/~orlins.EWRI. Because of time constraints, each participant could relate only a small portion of his or her agency’s interest; consequently, this report is not intended to be comprehensive, even for the various agencies represented on the panel

Concurrent Sessions C: Fish Screening at Water Diversions II - Practical Aspects of the Hydraulic Evaluation of Fish Screens

Significant improvements are being made in fish guidance systems used for downstream anadromous juvenile fish passage such as Floating Surface Collectors at Upper Baker Lake, Swift Reservoir, and Lower Baker Lake. These systems include converging vertical wedge-wire dewatering screens that pass flow pumped by submerged low-head axial pumps. The guidelines by which these systems are designed are set forth by the National Marine and Fisheries Service (NMFS), and require adherence to criteria such as transport velocity, screen approach velocity, and acceleration. As part of the final stage of commissioning, hydraulic balancing and operational evaluation are conducted using velocity and water level meters to adjust baffles for the purpose of distributing flow in accordance with their intended design flows, transport velocity, and screen approach velocity. This paper will discuss the guidelines for design, balancing, and evaluation of these facilities in the context of the practical field operations required to conduct the balancing and evaluation. An account of historical field operations and an analysis of the measurement uncertainties for the instrumentation used and deployment techniques will be provided. A descriptive comparative analysis of the dewatering process between these three projects and the documentation obtained in verifying NMFS criteria have been met will be provided. Lastly, discussion will be provided regarding the correlation between the criteria, how it is measured, and what the documentation validates in terms of fish protection

CSP13 - The Effects of a Water Plant Structural Foundation on Non-Clog Pump Vibration

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