Know your Contractual Rights

Know your Contractual Rights By The United School Employees of Pasco

What we will cover: Personal Leave Union Representation Substituting Planning Time/Duty Free Lunch & Breaks Discipline Referrals Overtime/After School Activities & Staff Development

Paid Leaves -Personal Leave Instructional Master Contract Article VIII, Section B Up to (6) days of personal leave at full compensation during each year. Such leave will not be cumulative and shall be deducted from accrued sick leave when used. Such leave shall not be used for recreational purposes. Teachers shall not be required to give reasons on leave forms. Article VIII, Section B SRP Master Contract Up to six (6) days of Personal Leave at full compensation during each year. Such leave will not be cumulative and shall be deducted from accrued Sick Leave when used. Such leave shall not be used for recreational purposes, and the SRP may be required to give the reason for requesting leave to the worksite supervisor or designee. Said reasons may include family problems, household emergencies, legal business, transportation problems, or other stated reasons. When an SRP cites one of the four reasons stated above, no additional explanation will be required.

Union Representation Instructional Master Contract SRP Master Contract Any SRP required to attend a meeting called by the worksite supervisor or designee for the purpose of a reprimand or for action leading to suspension or for an investigatory interview shall have the right of Union representation at such meeting. A worksite supervisor or designee holding a meeting for the purpose of a reprimand or for action leading to suspension or for an investigatory interview shall stop the meeting until Union representation can be obtained if the employee requests Union representation. This section shall not be interpreted to apply to conferences relating to observation or evaluation of work responsibilities. Any teacher required to attend a meeting called by the administration for the purpose of a reprimand which will become part of the teacher’s record or for action leading to suspension or for an investigatory interview shall have the right of Union representation at such a meeting. If during a meeting as described above, the teacher believes that the discussion could lead to disciplinary action, the teacher may ask that the meeting be delayed or rescheduled until Union representation can be provided. This section shall not be interpreted to apply to conferences relating to observation or evaluation of instruction.

Instructional Substituting • As an Instructional employee, substituting is VOLUNTARY. • This means no coercive means to get you to substitute may be employed.

SRP Substitution School Based SRP can be used as substitute teachers. If an SRP does not want to substitute, he/she should inform his/her Administrator. The Administrator should seek volunteers (a volunteer list should be created). If there are no volunteers, the SRP may be required to substitute. Remember, if you substitute for one half day or longer, you will be paid at the substitute rate of pay or $2.00 an hour in addition to your regular rate of pay, whichever is greater.

Instructional Planning Time • Article VII, Sec.S,12 • Planning time for teachers shall be defined as that time in which teachers may be assigned to do one or more of the following: • a) Plan for classroom activities. • b) Confer with parents. • c) Meet with grade-level or subject area team members on matters related to curriculum and student progress. • d) Attend and participate in staffings. • e) Complete Southern Association Accreditation activities. • f) Attend administrative meetings related to their performance and/or student concerns.

Instructional Planning TimePart II • Article VII, Section S, 18-20 • Planning Days • Required staff development or lengthy faculty meetings shall be kept to a minimum. • During the (5) days of Pre-Planning, teachers shall be provided at least (16) hours to plan for personal classroom activities. • This time will be scheduled in at least (2) hour blocks. • The 16 hours may be reduced for the following reasons: • Emergencies, including implementing State or Federal Mandates. • Voluntary participation in professional activities, or • Personal activities.

SRP Break Time • SECTION I - WORK DAY/WORK YEAR • 1. Each SRP shall be granted at least a thirty (30) minute duty-free non-paid lunch period. • An SRP who does not receive a paid lunch period shall be permitted to leave the worksite during his/her lunch period. • 2. Paid Relief Periods/Breaks. • a) Paid relief/break periods are intended to provide relief from the work schedule so as to reduce employee fatigue and to allow SRP to attend to personal needs. As such, paid relief/break periods should not be taken at either the start or end of the workday. The worksite supervisor shall designate the relief period for each SRP. • b) SRP who work six (6) to eight (8) hours a day shall be granted two (2) fifteen (15) minute relief periods during the workday, and SRP who work less than six (6) hours, but at least three (3) hours a day shall be granted one (1) fifteen (15) minute relief period during the workday.

SRP Breaks Good or Bad? SRP breaks are not optional, all SRP must take their breaks.

Student Discipline Referrals Both Instructional and SRP employees can write referrals on students.

Instructional Referrals Article VII, Section U At the discretion of the teacher, he/she may retain a copy of the form. Upon referral by the teacher, serious disturbance behavioral problems are the principal's responsibility for appropriate disciplinary action. Final action shall be taken within five (5) days unless there are extenuating circumstances. A copy of the discipline form with principal's action noted shall be returned to the teacher as soon as possible, but not more than five (5) days from the date of the referral.

School Based SRP Referrals Article VII, Section N, 1 If, in the opinion of an SRP, a student is disrupting regular activities, he/she may report the action to the teacher responsible for the student. After reporting the student’s action to the teacher and consulting with the teacher, either the teacher or the SRP may submit a written report of the incident to the worksite supervisor using the form which is appropriate for this purpose and may submit a recommended course of action which the principal shall fully consider when making a decision regarding disciplinary action. In the event there is no teacher responsible for the student at the time the incident occurs or the SRP is unable to identify the teacher responsible, the SRP may submit a written report of the incident to the worksite supervisor using the form which is appropriate for this purpose and may submit a recommended course of action which the Principal shall consider when making a decision regarding disciplinary action.

Transportation SRP Referrals Article VII, Section N, 1 If, in the opinion of a transportation employee, a student is disrupting regular operation of a bus, the transportation employee may submit a written report of the incident to the principal using the form which is appropriate for this purpose and may submit a recommended course of action which the principal shall fully consider when making a decision regarding disciplinary action. In accordance with State Statute 1003.31, the Board, the Superintendent, and each principal shall fully support the authority of school bus drivers to remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the school bus. Communication of the administration’s pending or final action shall be provided to the SRP as soon as possible, but no more than five (5) days from the date of the appropriate form being submitted. The employee copy of the form will be returned to the employee who submitted the form when action is completed.

SRP Overtime and After School Activities No SRP will be required to work beyond their scheduled workday without additional pay. Overtime will be paid at 1 ½ times the SRPs’ regular wages for work completed over 40 hours during the same week. If mutually agreed upon, compensatory time could be substituted in place of overtime pay. SRP working (6) or more hours per day will receive two (15) minute breaks in addition to a duty free lunch period. SRP working 3-6 hours per day will receive at least one (15) minute break in addition to a duty free lunch break.

Instructional Breaks, Overtime and After School Activities The normal workday for Instructional personnel shall be 7 ½ hours a day, including lunch. The lunch period shall be duty free. Instructional personnel may volunteer to work during their lunch and after hours, but they cannot be required to do so. No teacher will be required to work over 4 hours without a relief period. 24 hours notice should be provided before requiring attendance at all meetings, except in cases of emergencies (but that does not mean the meetings can occur before or after the workday).

Instructional Staff Development Staff development trainings shall be voluntary except when: Required to implement additional programs, or goals established by the Board, the legislature, or Federal Grants. Required staff development shall be reasonable in nature, duration and scope. Such required staff development shall be relevant and be in compliance with Florida’s Professional Development Protocol standards.

SRP Staff Development All staff development components offered shall be posted at the worksite 15 days prior to the training. Attendance at the staff development shall be voluntary unless: Required to implement additional programs or goals established by the Board, the Legislature, or Federal Grants. SRP within a specific field have first opportunity to attend staff development components related to their field.

Questions and Answers • All SRP employees are to work on SRP questions. • All Instructional employees are to work on Instructional questions. • Please work together at your tables and Good Luck!

What about Instructional in-services? Do I have to attend them? • If you are told that an in-service is mandatory and it is offered during the work day, you must attend (A recent example of this would be LFS trainings). • If the in-service is after hours or during the summer, there may or may not be a stipend offered. You do not have to attend in-services after the work day or during the summer.

What about SRP in-services? Do I have to attend them? • If you are told that an in-service is mandatory, you must go. You will be paid your regular hourly wage. • However, if you choose to attend an in-service that is not mandatory you will be paid a stipend of $7.00 per hour.

I’m a SRP instructional assistant who was asked to substitute for a teacher on another team; I really don’t want to. • You have the right to tell your administrator that you do not want to. • Your administrator must seek volunteers (a volunteer list should be created); however, if no volunteers are available, the administration has the right to assign you to substitute. • Remember, if you substitute for one half day or longer, you will be paid at the substitute rate of pay or $2.00 an hour in addition to your regular rate of pay, whichever is greater. • Make sure the bookkeeper at your worksite turns in the paperwork and gives you a copy for your records.

My supervisor has called me into his office, what do I do? • Instructional and SRP. • First, relax and take a deep breath. • If you think your conduct is being questioned, or if you believe disciplinary action could happen you should first speak with your supervisor and ask what is the meeting about. Second, clearly tell your supervisor that you want union representation. Then immediately contact your building rep or the USEP office.

THE END

Know your Contractual Rights