Employment Status as a Substitute

Substitutes are at will temporary employees. This means that a substitute can be released from employment at any time without cause, reason, or warning. 

Inactivation of Substitute

 A substitute may be inactivated or blocked from a particular site for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Receiving two (2) unsatisfactory performance reviews from a site. Receiving three (3) unsatisfactory performance reviews within one (1) year. Upon request, a Human Resources administrator shall meet with the substitute teacher and review the substitute teacher’s performance prior to inactivating the substitute.

2. Lack of valid teaching credential or substitute permit

3. A written request from the substitute teacher

4. Noncompliance with substitute dispatch procedures

5. Substantial noncompliance with the law, District policies, procedures or rules

One (1) unsatisfactory performance review from a site may result in future exclusion from that particular site.  

Substitute teachers have a right to respond to unsatisfactory performance reviews in writing within thirty (30) working days of receiving the negative report.

Bargaining Unit Substitute teachers can find additional information regarding performance reviews by visiting the BFT website: berkeleyfederationofteachers.org.

Request for Reactivation

Pursuant to Articles 15.11.1 or 15.11.2 the BUSD-BFT Collective Bargaining Agreement, twelve (12) months after being deactivated or blocked from a site, a bargaining unit substitute teacher may request reinstatement. 

To do so, the substitute teacher should write a letter to the Director of Human Resources explaining the reason why the substitute teacher should be reinstated. The Director of Human Resources or Designee will meet with the substitute teacher and make a determination. Reactivation for a particular site and/or the District’s substitute teacher list is at the discretion of the District.