Archive: July 2000

Following the Rules For August Days
By Steve Kaplan, UniServe Field Organizer

Absences during the three staff development days in August (or alternate dates determined by the site)

• The only paid absences on these days are for "illness or injury of the unit member (as documented by a doctor's note) and bereavement leave pursuant to Section 10.16." Unite members absent for other legitimate reasons will be given an opportunity to make up the days to avoid any loss of pay. Details have yet to be worked out.

Peer Enrichment and Review (becomes a new Article 18)
State legislation eliminated all funding for the mentor teacher program effective July 1, 2000. The same legislation created a Peer Assistance and Review program that required district level negotiations for implementation. SDEA and the District have concluded these negotiations. The program is in two parts. By far, the larger of the two segments is the Peer Enrichment Program (Program). This Program is voluntary and its intent "is to provide broad-based enrichment opportunities that encompass any area of classroom teacher need."

The Program is site-based with funding provided to each school and eligible program based on the number of classroom teachers in the cost center. The "funds are to be used primarily for individual enrichment activities provided on a one-on-one basis, unless there is a site decision to provide another type of opportunity." Funds may be used to pay a colleague who volunteers to work with a fellow classroom teacher. The Program is site-based and teacher-controlled. Its operation at the site will be implemented by a committee composed of the SDEA Association Representative, the Principal and a classroom teacher from the governance team elected by secret ballot vote of all classroom teachers on the governance team.

Your Association Representative will receive training and additional information on this Program at SDEA's Fall Leadership Conference in September.