OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ...

OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

QUEST FOR PARITY

SUSAN K. CLAVERIA Researcher

Report No. 1 2 , 1989

This report has been prepared in response to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 190, S.D. 1, which requested a study on the feasibility of realigning the work and wage schedules to provide parity between the school-based health therapists and the professional education personnel in the Department of Education.

The data presented and the findings and conclus~cnsreached in this repor: could not have been achieved without the cooperation and assistance from the many individuals in the fields of occupationai a r d physicai therapy, school health services, special education, and personnel classification and compensation who graciously consented to be interviewed and who provided information upon request. The Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) extends its appreciation to: Geraldine Marullo, Calvin Masaki, Dr. Frances Riggs: Dr. Edward Marguiies. Frances Yamamoto, Carlyn Dasinger. Julie Newell, Jane Kapoi. Paula Kurashige, Stephanie Kataoka, Gail Peralta, Henry Takeshita, and Beverly Koito of the Department ~Hiealth; Albert Yoshii, Gerald Sada, Margaret Donovan, Jane Festerling, Etnel Muratsoka, Kenneth Omura, Arthur Koga. and Beatrice Zane of ine Department of Education; Diana Kaapu; Ed Young, m d Dale Sains of the Department of Personnel Services; Lawrence Kumabe of the Department of the Attorney General; Garren Deweese of the Hawaii Government Employees' Association; and Barbara Chandler of the American Occupational Therapy Associarion for their contributions to this study, The LRB is especially grateful to the therapists and the supervisory personnel rn the School Health Support Services Section for their time ann candid comments.

This report does not provide a clear and final answer to resolve the problems of the cccupational and physical therapists in the public schools as some might expect because the parity issue is inextricably tied to other major issues which are outside tne scope of this study. Insread, the report lays out the chronology of events, the positions of the parties, and possible aiternative actions to provide the Legislature with ins,cjht into the problem and to offer some

guidance to the Department of Health in dealing with the problem. Tne LRB sincere!^ hopes

that the findings and recommendations in this report will be received in a positive light as any criticisms in this report are not intended to piace blame on indiv!dua!s bur to clear the air and esiabiish a basis from which the Schoo! Health S ~ p p o i tServices Section can address the concerns raised by its therapists.

Samuel B. K. Chang Director

November 1989

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD........ ... .. ........ .......... .............. . ...... ....

1. INTRODUCTION ................................. ....... Endnotes

2 THE P L 94-142 PROGRAM Intent Under P.L. 94-

............. ........... .... ................................. ..

Special. Education Program ..... ........

....... .. ....... ...... .... .......... .... ...

The D E Person@ Ciassficatiw System ....... ..... .......... . . ....... ..... . ............. ......

Relal&. Services Personnei Classification and Compensation .............. ........ ........

Classified DOE Personnel.on a Ten-Month Schedule

Endnates..... ................................... .. ............................. ......................................

4. RELATED SERVICES PERS,WNEL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ...................

Historical Background Organizational Structure Supervision within the S Service Delivery by 8cc Classification, Compensation, and Benefits ......................................................... Repricing Action Personnel in the Department of Health on a Ten-Month Workyear ........................ Endnotes

5. EVOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM ..................

The DOE Memorandum of Understanding ........................................................... Problems in tne DOH Occupa?ionaland Physical Therapy Ranks ......................... The Occupational and Physical Therapist Workload Task Force ...........................

Follow-up on Occupational and Physicai Therapist Workioad Task Force Recommendations . .................... ......... ......... ..... ..... ........................... ... ..........

Assessment and improvement of Related Services (AIRS) Project Report ............. Task Force on Health Therapist Shortages The Move for a Ten-Month Workyear Endnotes ........ ........... ....... ....... ..... ..... ......... ..... .... ............. ..... ............... .... ...... . ...

6. THE POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES .........

I. The Therapists' Perspective The LRB Survey of Therapist Concerns .................................................. The Rationale for a Ten-Month Workyear ................................................

II. The Employers' Perspective The DOH Position

The Department of Personnel Services

7. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Memorandum of Understanding Between the DOH and the HGEA ........................ Granting of Ten-Month Workyear Statutorily Alter the Collective Bargaining Unit Structur Transfer of the Occupational and Physical Therapists to the DOE ......................... DOE Action to End the Dichotomy in its Related Services Personnel Ranks .......... Reclassifying the Positions within the Section Maintain the Present Workyear and Workday ...................................................... Endnotes

8. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................................................

Findings .... ..... ....,..... ........... .......... ,........ ........., .,.............. ........ .......... .............. .

Recommendations ............. .................- ............................,.... ........ ... ....... ............

Tables

1. Shortage Category Differentials and Related Differentials--Physic21and Occupational

Therapists ............. .... ..................... ......, ..... ......, ,.......,... ..............,.. .......... ............

2. Retroactive Retention Differentials ...........................................................................

3. Retention Differentials

Exhibits

1 . Schooi Heaith Support Services Section--0rganizationai Chart. 2. Working Condition Probiems of Therapists .................................................................

Appendices A. Senate Concurrent Resoiution No. 190, S.D. 1 ..... B. Memorandum of Agreement Between the Department of Education and the

Department of Heaith--April 26, 1988...................................................................... C. School Health Services OTIPT Programs, Methods of Service Delivery ........................ D. New Empioyee Orientation Checkiist E. Class Specifications for Occupational and Physical Therapy Series .............................. F. Conference of Personnel Directors Recommendation on Repricing of OT Ill

and PT lii G Inequities Between DOE Ten-Month and Twelve-Month Speccal Services Personnel H. Memorandum of Understanding Between the State and the HGEA--

December 8, 1987..... ... .... .. . . .. ....... ... .. . .......... . ....... .......... .........

I . Inequities Between DOE Ten-Month Related Services and DOH Therapists .................. . LRB Survey of Occupationai and Physical Therapists K. Memorandum from Diana ti. K ~ ~ toD Tuitus Yao on S.B. No. 634. S.D. 1. H.D. ;

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