15.1 Purpose
The purpose of shared contracts is to provide options for classroom teachers to reduce their workloads and share the responsibility for one (1) full-hire position.
15.2 Application Procedure
Two (2) teachers may request District approval to share an assignment. Shared contracts are subject to the following:
15.2.1 Applications for a shared contract must be made each year. The application shall be submitted to the Superintendent prior to February 15 of the school year preceding the school year for which the shared contract is requested. Late applications will be considered by the Superintendent on an individual basis.
15.2.2 All shared contract teaching assignments are subject to approval by the District. District approval/denial shall be based on educational and program considerations.
15.2.3 Each requesting teacher must be full-time and must have tenure with the District unless otherwise approved by the Superintendent.
15.2.4 Job share assignments will be filled only by teachers who jointly request to work together.
15.2.5 Each job share teacher must request a leave of absence for that portion of the assignment which is shared with the other.
15.2.6 Job share assignments shall not be approved for longer than one (1) school year. Renewal of the job share may, however, be requested as set forth in this Section
15.3 Responsibilities of Job Share Participants
15.3.1 A job share is:
a) Working one-half (1/2) day, either morning or afternoon, on everyday that students are present; or
b) Working one-half (1/2) of the number of days required of a full time employee; or
c) Other arrangements approved by the District.
15.3.2 Responsibilities of a job share assignment will be divided and or allocated according to a written plan which is designed by the job share team-members and approved by the immediate Supervisor and Superintendent. The written plan must include:
a) Assumption of full responsibility for the total classroom and instructional plan by both team members.
b) A requirement that team-members jointly plan for both the school and their classroom on a regular basis.
c) Every job share, unless specifically exempted by the approved plan , shall require service by both team members on all work days outside student attendance days, plus orientation, Open House, Back-to-School Night, and parent conferences, (unless arranged and agreed upon by teachers and approved by site administrator).
d) A requirement that a team member must take active part in District and School meetings, parent conferences, yard-duty, and other duties on any day that the member is actually teaching.
e) Acknowledgement that team-members serving on a basis other than 15.3.1 a) may be required to attend meetings on non-work days at the discretion of the Principal.
f) All job share participants must work together for the first two (2) full instructional days of the school year.
g) Acknowledgment that field trips will be covered by the teacher serving contract on those days.
h) Without exception, each team member must attend all preservice days and staff development days or be docked.
15.3.3 If one (1) team-member is unable to complete a job share assignment for any reason the District may offer the unfinished time of service to the other partner. The accepting partner will be compensated at their daily rate.
15.4 Salary and Benefits
15.4.1 Salary shall be prorated based upon the division of the 180 instructional days as set forth in the approved job share application.
15.4.2 Each team-member will be paid additional compensation at their daily rate of pay for the following service, if actually rendered:
a) Three (3) pre-service days,
b) One (1) additional day for working during the first two (2) full instructional days of the school year. (See.15.3.2.f).
c) Three (3) staff development days.
15.4.3 Each job-share employee enrolled in health (medical, dental and vision) shall receive a pro-rated District contribution toward premium costs in accordance with Appendix “H”.
15.4.4 Pro-rating of salary and benefits shall be based upon the percent of service defined in the job share plan (see 15.3.2). In no case shall the total percent associated with a job share exceed one hundred (100%) (1.0 FTE)
15.4.5 Contributions to the retirement system will be based on actual salary paid. The employee will receive only that prorated service credit as computed by STRS
15.4.6 Workers' Compensation benefits are based on the actual base salary received by the employee
15.4.7 Each teacher on a shared contract shall advance to the next appropriate step on the salary schedule: each year in accordance with 16.5.2
15.5 Substitutes and Miscellaneous Provisions
15.5.1 Teachers in a job share may, whenever reasonably possible substitute for the partner who must be absent due to illness/injury.
a) When this occurs, there will be no deduction of sick leave. However, a pay-back day will be credited to the individual who substituted.
b) If payback days do not equal out at the end of the year, sick days shall be deducted from the partner in deficit and the teaching partner shall be paid for any extra days worked at the long-term substitute rate of pay.
c) When the job-share partner cannot reasonably substitute, a regular substitute will be employed and sick leave (prorated as appropriate) shall be deducted from the person who is absent.
15.5.2 Seniority for Layoff
For purposes of layoff, the length of service of a teacher on a shared contract shall be governed by Education Code Section 44955.
15.5.3 Shared Contract Employees During The Next School Year
Teachers who are in a second year job-share assignment shall continue in that job-share until:
a) Offered the opportunity to return to full-time by the District (such offers shall be made in seniority order)
b) Should such a job-share teacher decline the offer to return to full-time status, he/she shall thereafter be subject to each of the job-share provisions listed above.