Article XIII - Workday

13.1 The District recognizes that the varying nature of a teacher’s day-to-day professional responsibilities does not lend itself to a work day of rigidly established length.  Generally, however, teachers are expected to be at school thirty (30) minutes prior to the commencement of classes and remain on duty until thirty (30) minutes after the final dismissal of classes.  When necessary, teachers are further expected to remain for a sufficient amount of time to take care of student needs, attend parent or administrative conferences or meetings, and participate in additional and/or other assigned or voluntary duties.

13.1.1 Teachers may be excused prior to the end of the certificated work day provided it has been authorized by the Principal, or in the Principal’s absence, the designee.

13.1.2 Effective July 1, 2017, the teacher work day will be extended by fifteen (15) minutes on Tuesdays through Fridays, except the District minimum days. Student release time will be 2:30 pm on Tuesday through Friday.

13.1.3 Teachers shall have a forty (40) minute duty-free lunch break each working day.  The lunch break will be allowed as near noon as it is reasonably possible (Title 5, Section 5600). (A & B TA for work day)

13.2 Moved to 13.1.3

13.3 MINIMUM DAYS

13.3.1 There will be mutually agreed upon minimum days each year with a minimum of 230 minutes each. They will be used as follows: a) minimum days for parent conferences b) 2 minimum days: 1 minimum day for the last day before winter break and 1 minimum day for the last day of school c) the remainder of minimum days scheduled in any calendar year for school-wide or grade level collaboration

13.3.2 The intent of the minimum days designed for collaboration is to allow for grade-level or school-wide collaboration and not for staff meetings or individual preparation. The intent is to provide staff with staff development and training as specified in the Single School Plan and supporting plans, and the time necessary to meet and confer concerning student, curricular, program, and assessment needs as it relates to the implementation of the plans on an ongoing basis. 

13.3.3 The schedule of days and their uses will be determined each spring for the following year by a committee made up of representatives from the staff and the administrative team. As issues arise, changes to the schedule will be made by the committee based upon site needs and/or teacher input.

13.3.4 Time will be set aside at least one time each trimester for individual and undirected grade-level collaboration.

13.3.5 All minimum days are regular contract workdays. Certificated staff will be responsible for work related activities during the time following the end of the instructional day (student day) until the end of their workday.  

13.4 FACULTY/STAFF MEETINGS

13.4.1 Faculty meetings shall be defined as meetings called by the administration which teachers are required to attend. Faculty/Staff meetings may be school wide, grade level specific or a combination of the two and are scheduled at the end of a normal instructional day. Faculty meetings may not take place on minimum days except in an emergency situation. 

1. Certificated staff are required to attend no more than 2 faculty/staff meetings per month which extend no more than 60 minutes outside of the certificated contract day. Should the meeting extend beyond this time, unit members have the option of remaining.  

2. Additionally, Emergency Faculty/Staff meetings may be called by the administrator should an important need arise. 

13.4.2 The District may also require that teachers perform additional duties.  Such duties include, but are not limited to, planning, selecting, and preparing materials for instruction; evaluating the work of pupils; conferring with parents; keeping records and studying current literature to keep abreast of developments within the subject matter taught by the teacher.  These duties shall include supervising pupils; supervising recesses and other school day activities; participating in ‘Back to School Night’, Open-House, Winter and Spring Concert; attending faculty meetings; serving on District approved staff development programs; and serving on committees providing advice and service to the District.

13.5 ADJUNCT DUTIES

13.5.1 Adjunct duties are a valuable part of the certificated assignment and contribute to the entire Newcastle School community. It is understood that the Adjunct Duty Schedule does not include all the unique activities and duties inherent to each individual teaching assignment or grade level. Adjunct duties are not paid positions; therefore, duties and assignments that receive a stipend, although crucial to the success of our school, are not included on the Adjunct Duty Schedule.  Adjunct duties are those that occur outside of the teacher's workday or at the discretion of the Adjunct Duty Committee. 

13.5.2 A committee shall meet before the end of the school year to review and revise the Adjunct Duty schedule (see Appendix C). The committee shall consist of the Superintendent or designee, the site Principal, and representatives of each division (TK-2, 3-5, and 6-8).  The committee shall discuss and decide points for duties and ensure that all necessary duties and responsibilities are covered.

13.5.3 Unit members will complete adjunct duties up to a maximum of three (3)  points per year.  Each point is approximately 4 hours of commitment. Unit members will be given an opportunity to volunteer for adjunct duties. In making such assigned or voluntary duty assignments, the District agrees to attempt to ensure that such duties are shared equitably among the bargaining unit and to provide as much advance scheduling and notice as possible.

13.5.4 All known assignments will be made and distributed within the first month of school each year. Additions, changes, and/or reassignments may be made as needs arise and in consultation with the Association Representative.

13.5.5  Non-Instructional Supervision duties before and after school (drop off and pick up) during the work day will be selected and assigned by the staff to ensure equitable distribution of duties. Each Unit Member may have up to five (5) supervisorial duties per week, not to exceed seventy-five (75) minutes total. If a Unit Member cannot attend their duty, it is up to the Unit Member to find a replacement to cover their supervisorial duties. In the event that the Unit Member is out on leave, it is the responsibility of the Unit Member to inform their substitute that they are responsible for taking over the supervisorial duty in their absence.

13.5.5.1 Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Special Education teachers shall be exempt from the supervisorial duties noted above in (13.5.5) since, based on past and current practice, TK/K and Special Education teachers are responsible as part of their position to fulfill the following: before school recess supervision, morning recess supervision, and dismissal duties, that are unique to their positions.

13.6 OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIPS

13.6.1 Teachers planning and supervising a school-sponsored overnight field trip of one or more nights shall be authorized one (1) day of release time, which is classified as district business to aid in the planning and preparation of the trip. 

13.6.2 Stipends for teachers attending overnight field trips will be listed in Appendix B. 

13.6.3 All absence requests for district business must be filed on appropriate district forms, following all timelines, and receive prior approval from the superintendent/principal.

13.7 PREPARATION TIME

13.7.1 Prep time will be provided using, but not limited to, classes such as P.E. and other educational programs.

13.7.2 The District will make every effort to provide equitable prep/common planning time to all unit members. The District will provide at least 90 minutes of prep/common planning time per week at a minimum of 30-minute increments. Part-time employees shall have their prep time prorated per their assignment.

13.8 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

13.8.1 Unit members may earn up to one (1) full day of per diem pay for Professional Development, distributed throughout the school year, for grade level, department, or individual professional growth. This Professional Development and/or preparation can include district or county staff development offerings, conferences, or workshops and must be approved in writing by the Site Administrator.

13.8.2 Unit members must notify the Site Administrator in writing and receive written approval prior to receiving credit for the Professional Development. The unit member may earn the hours during the summer if the notification and approval have been completed prior to the Professional Development.

13.8.3 The unit member will be paid upon proof of completion of a minimum of 6.5 hours of approved Professional Development. Payments will be made twice a year, the first payment on December 10th and the second payment on May 10th.

13.8.4 Unit members who choose to pursue Professional Development during the contracted workday need to follow the language in Article 5, Section 5.1.9, Staff Development/Professional Leave.