Archive: October 1999

Step Advancement on Salary Schedule

Appendix A Salary Rules 4.02 (page 164) - Step Increase on Salary Schedule (Days Worked) You must work 139 days to qualify for a step increase. In previous years, Section 4.021 required a unit member to work 136 days "within the regularly scheduled school year" to advance a step on the salary schedule. As a result of the Staff Development Buy-out Program the contract work year has increased from 184 days to 187 days. This has increased the required number of days worked for a step increase. It is important to note that days absent do not count toward the required 139 days (4.022) unless it is an approved absence on district business or "due to the unit member's job-related illness or injury for which workers' compensation insurance benefits are awarded."
Note: We are currently working with the district on having the required number of days lowered to 138. We will keep you updated.

4.03 (page 165) - Step Increase on Salary Schedule (Professional Study Leave) In most cases, unit members taking a long term unpaid leave are not eligible for step advancement on the salary schedule. Professional study leave is an exception. Step advancement shall occur if certain conditions are met.

• 1 Step - completion of a full-time college program (24 upper division or graduate semester units).
• 1 Step - completion of one semester of college work (12 upper division or graduate semester units) + one semester of district service, half time or more, during the same school year.
• Up to 2 Steps - when an Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree is awarded to the unit member on leave.

This section lists several other unpaid leaves qualifying for step advancement.