Archive: October 2005

Reasonable Number of Meetings
By Steve Kaplan, UniServe Field Organizer

"The balance of the forty hour workweek shall include as responsibilities; a reasonable number of meetings..." Article 8, Section 8.5.3

SDEA and the District agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
that gives guidance on this term "reasonable number of meetings." It was signed on June 16, 2005. The Board of Education approved the MOU on July 12, 2005. The text of the MOU is below.

The District and the Association agree that the best practice for the conduct of required meetings would show the following elements:

* That meeting agendas are relevant and incorporate appropriate items related to the specific needs of the school.

* Those meetings are to be well structured and have agendas that are honored and closely followed.

* Meetings begin and conclude on time.

* Agenda items at the meeting should be germane to the individuals required to be at the meeting.

Given these elements it is understood that during a given month teachers would normally be required to attend and participate in a departmental/grade level meeting, a staff meeting, and standing committees (no more than one) that are ongoing.

An additional meeting may be called to address issues that cannot be
accommodated through inclusion on the agenda of a regularly scheduled
site meeting.

In the event the level of complaints from teachers at a site demonstrates that there is general concern regarding the number of meetings, the SDEA Association Representative will schedule a meeting with the Site Principal/Department Head to determine if there are an unreasonable number of meetings occurring at the site. Should the meeting between the AR and the principal not result in a satisfactory resolution; the matter will be referred to the SDEA CAC for consideration and resolution.

If the SDEA CAC is unable to resolve the issue, SDEA can utilize the
grievance process. (Example Joint Caseload Committee)

Staff Development that occurs on a modified day and ends by the contract day (6 hrs 35 mins.) does not count as a meeting for purpose of this agreement. If staff is released from assignment to attend staff development it does not count as a meeting.