FAQs- Civil Service
What types of positions fall under Civil Service?
The Civil Service Staffing Team staffs a wide variety of positions including management, clerical, IT, food service, financial, technical, trades and other roles which support the overall operation of SFUSD.
Why are these employees called Civil Service?
These positions fall into classifications also recognized and overseen by the City & County of San Francisco Civil Service System. Many of these roles are also found in other departments across SF. You can see a full list here.
How can I apply for Civil Service positions?
Civil service positions are filled in 2 ways.
- Permanent (PCS) Positions: SFUSD and other City departments conduct exams to which people can apply. All who pass the exams are placed on a list for hire. Candidates for these positions are selected from the list. These roles are not posted on the job site.
- Exempt Positions: These positions are project-based or short term roles. Individuals may apply for these positions and will be selected through a competitive interview process.
I have questions about the salary I will earn in a classified position. Who should I contact?
Use the Total Compensation Estimator and select your position from the drop down menu to view the salary range for your role. For additional questions about salary, it may be helpful to visit the salary and benefits page of the SFUSD website. You may also contact the Salary Team by submitting a help/inquiry ticket at eis.sfusd.edu, or come to their drop-in hours at 555 Franklin Street, Monday through Thursday from 1 to 4:30.
I am a paraeducator transitioning to a Civil Service Classified appointment. What should I know?
As a Paraeducator transitioning to a Civil Service Classified appointment, some things regarding your pay schedule, accruals, retirement and benefits will shift. See below regarding some of the questions and concerns you might have about this transition:
- Do I have to quit my paraeducator job?
- SFUSD employees working at least 3 years as a full-time paraeducator are eligible to take a 6-month unpaid personal leave of absence. Once the leave period has ended, you will need to resign your para position if you do not plan to return or request an extension of your leave of absence. Please note: extensions are not guaranteed. Please contact the Leaves office at (415) 241-6101 ext. 1231 or by email at Leaves@sfusd.edu to set up your leave.
- Will my health benefits end?
- No. Your health coverage will migrate from your para position to the classified position with no break in coverage.
- Do I need to complete a new hire packet (including new tax forms, direct deposit, etc.)?
- SFUSD classified employees are also employees of the City & County of San Francisco and, as a result, there will be a few different forms to complete. Your tax forms and direct deposit paperwork will not have to be redone.
- Will I have retirement benefits?
- Upon appointment to a classified position, you will become a member of San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS). If you are hired into a temporary exempt (TEX) or temporary provisional (TPV) position, your membership in SFERS will commence at the completion of 1,040 hours (in a rolling 12-month period) in the classified role. In any other case, your SFERS membership will commence upon hire.
- What happens to my sick time?
- Upon appointment to a classified position, you will lose any sick time accrued as a Paraeducator.
- What about Vacation time and Floating Holidays?
- If you have worked as a Para for more than 1 year, your vacation time will be paid out to you at the termination of your Para position. You will have access to 5 Floating Holidays (4 if appointed into a management role) at the completion of 6 months in the classified role.
- Will I continue to pay union dues?
- This depends on your classification. Classified employees are represented by 15 unions which cover certain jobs. If your classified role is covered by one of these unions, you will pay dues to that union. However,some classified positions are unrepresented. If you’re appointed to a position in one of these classifications, you will not pay dues.
I am Certificated employee transitioning to a Civil Service Classified appointment. What should I know?
As a Certificated employee transitioning to a Civil Service Classified appointment, some things regarding your pay schedule, accruals, retirement and benefits will shift. See below regarding some of the questions and concerns you might have about this transition:
- Do I have to quit my certificated job?
- Yes. You will not be able to hold a certificated appointment and a classified appointment at the same time.
- Will my health benefits end?
- If you are currently enrolled in a health plan with SFUSD, your benefits will not end. Because you will be transitioning from a monthly pay cycle to a biweekly one, there may be a resulting coverage gap (no coverage).
For example, if you leave your certificated role on January 26, and the next classified pay period begins on February 7, you will have a coverage gap February 1 – 6. In this case, your coverage as a certificated employee continued until January 31, and your coverage resumes with the new classified cycle on February 7. There will be no break on occasions where the classified pay period begins on the 1st of a month.
- If you are currently enrolled in a health plan with SFUSD, your benefits will not end. Because you will be transitioning from a monthly pay cycle to a biweekly one, there may be a resulting coverage gap (no coverage).
- Do I need to complete a new hire packet (including new tax forms, direct deposit, etc.)?
- SFUSD classified employees are also employees of the City & County of San Francisco and, as a result, there will be a few different forms to complete. Your tax forms and direct deposit paperwork will not have to be redone.
- Will I remain in CalSTRS?
- Upon appointment to a classified position, you may opt to remain a member of CalSTRS. This is highly recommended for individuals who have been CalSTRS members for more than 5 years and are Vested.
- What will happen to my tenure?
- Your tenure will remain attached to your certificated role. You will have a new service date commencing the date of appointment to the classified position.
- What happens to my sick time
- The Benefits Team will convert your sick days to sick hours and they will show up on your pay stub as such. They will be converted back to sick days for reporting to CalSTRS.
- What about Vacation time and Floating Holidays?
- You will begin to accrue vacation time upon appointment to a classified position and you will be able to use this time as you accrue it. You will have access to 5 Floating Holidays (4 if appointed into a management role) at the completion of 6 months in the classified role.
- Will I continue to pay union dues?
- This depends on your classification. Classified employees are represented by 15 unions which cover certain jobs. If your classified role is covered by one of these unions, you will pay dues to that union. However, some classified positions are unrepresented. If you’re appointed to a position in one of these classifications, you will not pay dues.