Frequently Asked Questions

How many personal days do I have, and when can I use them?

• HTA members are entitled to two (2) personal days per school year. These days cannot be used on a day immediately prior to or after a school vacation, holiday, or long weekend.  These days also cannot be used in the last five school days of the year.

• You do not need to provide any information about a personal day, unless you are asking for an extenuating circumstance to be considered to use a personal day on one of the "black-out days" listed above.

• When possible, provide forty-eight hours of advance notice.

How many sick days do I have, and when do I need a doctor's note?

• Members hired prior to June 30, 2013 are allotted sick time according to the schedule listed on page 10 of our contract. Members hired after June 30, 2013 are awarded sick leave as follows: "Each September 1st, members shall be granted fifteen (15) sick days per year, which shall be prorated for partial year employment. Said days may accumulate up to 200."

• After ten (10) total sick days (excluding family care) or five (5) consecutive sick days, central office may request a doctor's note. 

What are family care days, and how do I use them?

• Your four (4) family care days can be taken for any type of family care, not just illness. These days do not count towards your ten sick day count, but they are charged against your sick time. 

• You do need to list which family member you are caring for. Eligible family members are: parents, step-parents, siblings, spouse, child, step-child, grandparent, grandchild, people who live with you, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law.

How many bereavement days do I have, and for whom can I use them?

• Members are allotted up to five (5) days of bereavement leave in each instance immediately following the  death of the following relatives: father, mother, step-father, step-mother, brother, sister, spouse, child, step-child, grandparent, grandchild, individuals residing in household, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law.

• Members are allotted up to two (2) days of bereavement leave for the death of an aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or grandparent-in-law.

How do I redeem a personal day earned by serving as a mentor or writing recommendations?

• Answer TBD

See pages 10-16 of our contract for more information on Sick Time and Leaves of Absence.

What are my options regarding parental leave as an expecting parent?

• More information TBA

• FMLA  leave is unpaid, job-protected leave that can be used for the birth of a child and time to care for the newborn as well as adoption or placement of a child for foster care with a member. Employees must provide at least two weeks' written notice before his/her anticipated date of departure and include an intended date of return.

• Unpaid leaves of absence for child rearing purposes will be granted to any teacher who has worked for three years, and may be granted to any teacher who has worked for one year. Child rearing leaves are granted for up to one school year. If a member works more than ninety (90) days of a year in which that leave is taken, they will continue on the salary schedule at the level that would have been achieved if the absence had not occurred.

• Members who are the non-birth giving parent may use up to seven (7) days of leave charged to sick time to care for a newborn child in addition to the four (4) days of Family Care Leave.

What are my options if I need to take an extended period of time away from my job?

•  Pages 13-15 of our contract cover the terms of a variety of Extended Leaves of Absence.

• Pages 16-17 of our contract cover Sabbatical Leave.

See pages 10-16 of our contract for more information on Leaves of Absence.

What procedures do I need to follow when I am taking courses?

• All courses must be submitted for approval using the form shared on the HR portal. 

• You must indicate whether you intend to submit for tuition reimbursement. Non-PTS teachers can be reimbursed up to $1250 per year and PTS teachers can be reimbursed up to $1000 per year.

• If you plan on making a lane change the following year, you must indicate the change in your Intent to Submit form at the start of the year.

• In order to complete a lane change grades and receipts must be submitted using the form shared on the HR portal by October 1st.

• Deadline for reimbursement occurs twice per year - October 1st and May 15th.

What is an online self-paced course, and how many credits can I take per year?

• Online self-paced courses are courses where a professor does not set deadlines or provide feedback. If you are unsure if a course is self-paced, ask your building representative.

•  HTA members may take no more than six credits of online self-paced courses per year.

See pages 17-19 of our contract for more information on Professional Development and Educational Improvement. 

What are my regular work hours?

Marathon 9:00 AM - 3:15 PM

Elmwood 9:00 AM - 3:15 PM

Hopkins 9:00 AM - 3:15 PM

Middle School 7:55 AM - 2:25 PM

High School 7:55 AM - 2:25 PM

• The school day for Marathon, Elmwood, and Hopkins teachers begins fifteen (15) minutes before the above starting times and ends no more than fifteen (15) minutes after the above dismissal times on days when duties have been assigned.

• The school day for Middle/High School teachers begins five (5) minutes before the above starting times and ends no more than five (5) minutes after the above dismissal times on days when all professional obligations have been met.

• Secondary teachers are required to be available to students one (1) day per week to provide extra help. If not students arrive within the ten (10) minutes following dismissal time, teachers may leave.

What are my professional obligations on district professional development days?

•  District-wide professional development days take place from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm with a thirty (30) minute lunch break for all staff.

• On early-release days, staff are required to stay until the end of their regular school day.

• On early-dismissal days (the day before Thanksgiving and the last day of school) staff may leave when their professional obligations are met.

See pages 23-30 of our contract for more information on Teaching Hours, Teaching Load, and Work Year.

Who do I contact if I have a question related to Human Resources?

Sheena Martin is the district's Director of Human Resources. Sheena's email is smmartin@hopkinton.k12.ma.us
Emily Brown is the Executive Secretary to the HR Director. Emily's email is ebrown@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.

Who do I contact if I have a question related to payroll?

Michelle Brodeur is the district's Payroll Coordinator. Her email address is mbrodeur@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.

Who do I contact if I have a question related to benefits?

Aimee Carnicelli is the district's Benefits Coordinator. Her email address is acarnicelli@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.