GBA-AR - Veterans' Preference

Code: GBA-AR
Adopted: 12/14/16; 7/13/22
Original Code: GBA-AR
 

Oregon’s Veterans’ Preference Law requires the district to grant a preference to qualified and eligible veterans and disabled veterans at each stage in the hiring and promotion process. To be qualified for veterans’ preference, a veteran or disabled veteran must meet the minimum and any other special qualifications required for the position sought. To be eligible for veterans’ preference a veteran or disabled veteran must provide certification they are a veteran or disabled veteran as defined by Oregon law[1].

The district is not obligated to hire or promote a qualified and eligible veteran or disabled veteran.  The district is obligated to interview all minimally qualified veterans or disabled veterans and to hire or promote a qualified or eligible veteran or disabled veteran if he or she is equal to or better than the top candidate after the veterans’ preference has been applied.

A veteran may submit a written request to the district for an explanation of the reasons why they were not selected for the position.[2]  The district shall provide the reasons for not selecting the candidate when requested.

Recruitment Procedures

All job postings or announcements will include a concise list of minimum and any special qualifications required for the position.  Job postings will include a statement that the district’s policy is to provide veterans and disabled veterans with preference as required by law and the job posting will require applicants to provide certification of eligibility for preference, in addition to other requested materials.[3]

Selection Procedures [4]

Step 1:  Before the review of any applications the Human Resource Director will establish an evaluation scoring guide based on the minimum and any special qualifications listed in the job posting.

Step 2:  The Human Resource Director will review the application materials using the above evaluation scoring guide to determine which applicants meet the minimum and any special qualifications listed in the job posting. In assessing the applicant materials of a veteran or disabled veteran the Human Resource Director shall evaluate whether the skill experience obtained in the military are transferable to the posted position. In this step the district does not apply a veterans’ preference. Any applicants that do not meet the minimum and any special qualifications shall be removed from the applicant pool.

Step 3:  Based on Step 2, the Human Resource Director determines who will be interviewed.  All qualified and eligible veterans or disabled veterans shall be given an opportunity to interview.

Step 4:  Interview questions and scoring sheets will be developed and each scoring sheet must be completed after each interview by the interviewers.

Step 5:  Following completion of the interviews, the Human Resource Director shall complete the selection matrix and score the applicants based on the scoring sheets completed during interviews.  Veterans’ preference points must be applied by adding 5 points to an eligible veteran and 10 points to an eligible disabled veteran.

Step 6:   The Human Resource Director makes the offer to the applicant with the highest final score. The district is not obligated to hire or promote a qualified and eligible veteran or disabled veteran.

The district is obligated to hire or promote a qualified or eligible veteran or disabled veteran if they are equal or better than the top candidate after the veterans’ preference has been applied.

A veteran may submit a written request to the district for an explanation of the reasons why they were not selected for the position.  The district shall provide the reasons for not selecting the candidate when requested.

Filing a Complaint

A veteran or disabled veteran is encouraged to contact the human resource office if they have any concerns or questions concerning the application of or the process used for veterans’ preference.

A veteran or disabled veteran claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of Board policy GBA - Equal Employment Opportunity or this administrative regulation, may file a written complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) in accordance with Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 659A.820.


[1] Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 408.225: definition of veteran.

[2] Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 408.230(5)

[3] Verification of Veteran’s Preference - A veteran will submit: (a) a copy of their Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215); or (b) proof of receiving a nonservice connected pension from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  A disabled veteran will submit a copy of their letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs verifying disabled veteran status.

[4] OSBA recommends use of a scored system. If the district chooses not to use a scored system the law requires that the district give special consideration in the district’s hiring decision to veterans and disabled veterans and the district will need to be able to demonstrate the method used for providing special consideration.” ORS 408.230(2)(c).