SALARY
16.1 Each teacher shall be paid based upon his/her placement on the certificated salary schedule which is attached as Appendix F.
16.1.1 Speech and Language Teachers’ initial placement on the certificated salary schedule will be step 12, column E.
16.2 All teachers entering the District shall have review made of their prior teaching experience, upon which an initial classification and salary schedule placement shall be completed. In addition, degrees and collegiate units shall also be reviewed.
16.3 For the 2014-15 school year and thereafter, a maximum of Twelve (12) years prior experience outside the District shall be accepted. Initial step placement shall be no higher than step 13. In order to gain one (1) year's prior experience credit, the teacher must have served for seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the school year as a full-time certificated staff member.
16.4 Permanent teachers who leave the District and are subsequently re-employed shall receive credit for former in-district experience.
16.5 Teachers with the required years of qualifying service shall be eligible for placement on a longevity step at the commencement of the next year of service.
16.5.1 For purposes of this Agreement, a qualifying year of service includes:
a) All years of service in the Loomis Union School District; plus
b) Any years of service with other employers which were credited to the employee on the date of the initial District employment.
16.5.2 A year of service is granted if the employee rendered service on not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the teaching days in that year. Less than full years of service may be accumulated to equal a year. In such cases, movement is effective at the commencement of the year following satisfaction of the requirement.
16.5.2.a. In the case of maternity leave, if an employee has accumulated enough sick leave to combine with rendered service (in seat) to equal 75% of the teaching days in that year, they will receive a full year of service and advance the following year.
16.5.2.b Workers Compensation and Extended Leave do not qualify towards their 75% service.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
16.6 All teachers are encouraged to improve their proficiency through study. Approved Professional Growth Unit courses as defined below will be credited to the individual for salary schedule advancement purposes. Such credit shall be given under guidelines stipulated below.
16.7 Teachers will be allowed to move over one (1) column for every fifteen (15) Professional Growth Units obtained except for Continuing Education Longevity. Intention to move on either case must be indicated on the Intent Slip.
16.8 All units to be credited for the current school year shall be submitted by an up-to-date transcript or grade card to the Superintendent for tentative approval prior to October 30 of each calendar year.
16.9 The criteria and source for this Board's acceptance of units submitted for credit and/or reimbursement shall include university, workshop, conference, and county in-service courses, and shall be:
a) Courses which develop increased competence in elementary subject areas and curriculum; and/or
b) Courses which prepare staff members for changing grade levels or subject areas within the elementary school; and/or
c) Courses which develop competencies in instructional techniques and methodology.
16.10 Actual credit and/or reimbursement shall be dependent upon receipt and approval by the Superintendent of the Professional Growth Approval Form (Appendix G)
16.11 All teachers who are directed by the District to enroll in remedial college courses or in equivalent classes, pursuant to California Education Code Section 44664(b), regarding a negative evaluation in the areas of teaching methods or instruction, shall be eligible for provisions of Professional Development Course sections of Article 16 of this Agreement.
CONTINUED EDUCATION LONGEVITY
16.12 1. Continued Education Longevity increment shall be included on the salary schedule at columns VI, and Steps 16-25. This is available to eligible teachers who complete ten (10) approved units between years 16-19 and after year 20.
2. Ten (10) professional growth hours equals one (1) unit.
3. Units completed prior to reaching Step 16, Column V, are not applicable to Continued Education Longevity.
4. Continued Education Longevity units include college approved units and District determined units.
5. The plan to obtain the units shall be submitted to the Superintendent and/or designee for approval.
6. See Appendix G for the Professional Growth Approval Form. All continued education units must be preapproved by the Superintendent and/or designee.
7. Units cannot be earned during a teacher’s normal work day or if any registration fees or expenses are district paid.
TRAVEL UNITS
16.13 Travel is encouraged to provide stimulation and enrichment of instruction in the classroom as well as professional growth for the teachers of the District.
16.14 At the option of the LTA, a Unit Evaluation Committee may be formed to consist of: one (1) member of the administrative staff; three (3) teachers.
16.15 If requests for travel units are made at a time when a Unit Evaluation Committee has not been organized, the Superintendent shall evaluate and decide upon any requests being made by teachers regarding travel units.
16.16 Requests for summer travel units shall be submitted in writing to the Superintendent by June 1. If travel is to be taken at another time, the request should be submitted at least one (1) month in advance of departure.
16.17 Letters of request shall contain:
a) Statement of purpose of the trip;
b) A list of objectives to be attained;
c) An estimate of educational relevance;
d) Itinerary, including dates of departure and return;
e) Number of units requested.
16.18 Upon completion of travel, the teacher shall notify the Superintendent in writing. A report of the trip shall be presented within sixty (60) days after notification. The report shall include pertinent information explaining what was seen and done; a statement of educational value derived from the trip; a brief evaluation of the itinerary; and a statement of how the information will be used in the teacher's classroom.
16.19 A maximum of four (4) units may be granted in each thirty (30) units for professional growth.
PAYCHECKS
16.20 Paychecks will be issued by county guidelines.
EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT
16.21 Health Plans Available
Medical and Dental health plans are currently available through SIG. Information on these plans is available through the District Office or directly from SIG.
FRINGE BENEFITS
16.22 Teacher benefits are set forth in Appendix G. The master contract between the District and the insurance carriers through the Joint Powers Agreement, School Insurance Group (SIG) are on file in the District Office and are available for inspection.
16.23 Plan Limitations
Eligible employees are restricted in choosing only those plans made available by SIG and are further restricted in choosing only those plans made available by the collective bargaining agreement. Eligibility is determined by SIG, the insurance carrier, and this contract. Enrollment, including new family members, will be in accordance with SIG rules. Failure to properly follow these rules may result in the employee having to wait until the next available period for coverage.
The employee is responsible to notify the District Office within thirty(30) days of when the employee knew or should have known of a change in his or her status. Change of status includes, but is not limited to births, deaths, divorce, marriage, ineligibility of dependents due to age, and similar events.
Coverage will normally commence the first of the month following the first day of work. When making additions, deletions or changes to current coverage, a district "Change of Status" form must be completed and a SIG enrollment change form. When these forms are received, the coverage is the responsibility of the employee to make sure that all forms are completed accurately and received timely by the District Office.
16.24 COBRA
The parties agree that current employees, once they have terminated employment, according to PL 272 (COBRA) may continue the benefits agreed to in this article in accordance with Law, SIG, and District procedures.
MEDICARE COVERAGE
16.25 The parties agree to provide an election (hereinafter "Division") so that current employees who were eligible for coverage under the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) as of March 31, 1986 and who have not otherwise been mandated into Medicare coverage, may elect whether or not they wish to have contributions made by them and on their behalf for purposes of establishing eligibility for Medicare coverage.
16.26 After June 3, 1993, the Governing Board shall pass an appropriate resolution indicating its intent to offer "Medicare only" coverage for eligible employees pursuant to appropriate procedures for conducting a Division; and, thereafter, the Governing Board will enter into an appropriate agreement or amendment to agreement with the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) allowing for the provision of "Medicare only" coverage for eligible employees who have elected such coverage.
16.27 The parties understand that the election is on a one (1) time only basis.
16.28 For employees electing “Medicare Only” coverage, the District will contribute an amount equal to one point four-five percent (1.45%) of monthly or tenthly wages until such time as the employee’s annual salary for that year has been paid or has reached the statutory maximum, whichever occurs first. A matching one point four-five percent (1.45%) of wages shall be deducted from the employee’s salary for purposes of contributing to eligibility for “Medicare Only” coverage. The District’s contribution shall not exceed one point four-five percent (1.45%) and any increase in the employer-required contribution shall be assumed by the employee unless and until negotiated otherwise.
16.29 Contributions began November 1, 1993 pay period. By so doing, the parties intend to provide four (4) quarters' coverage for that calendar year in light of their current understanding that contributions based upon Two Thousand Eighty Dollars ($2,080) of covered earnings will provide four (4) quarters toward eligibility in anyone (1) calendar year. Neither the Association nor the District assumes any liability or responsibility in the event that fewer than four (4) quarters are generated as a result of beginning contributions effective November 1, 1993.
16.30 The parties recognize that final State and Federal approval of the necessary agreements may be as far away as a year to eighteen (18) months following ratification of this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties agree, if necessary, to escrow the deductions and contributions described in Article 16.29 above until such time as final approval requires such past and future contributions to be forwarded directly to the Social Security System. Any interest accruing to such escrow account shall be applied toward the District's contribution to pay and reimburse PERS for the administrative costs which may periodically be billed to the District. After such interest is exhausted, the District will assume sole responsibility for payment of such costs.
16.31 Employees who are relying on the coverage quarters provide pursuant to this Agreement and who retire prior to the date of final approval by the Federal Government, do so at their own risk. Neither the District nor the Association assumes any liability or responsibility for any information or calculations pertaining to number of quarters or any other related information upon which employees may have relied in deciding whether or not to elect “Medicare Only” coverage.
16.32 The sole purpose of this clause is to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to elect whether or not they wish to have contributions made for them or on their behalf for the purposes of eligibility for Medicare coverage. This clause is not intended nor shall it be applied as a guarantee that such employees will, in fact, upon retirement be eligible for “Medicare Only” coverage. Questions arising as to the application and/or interpretation of this clause shall be specifically excluded from the grievance/arbitration clause of this collectively negotiated Agreement.