Archive: September 2007

Hours
By Steve Kaplan, UniServe Field Organizer

Section 8.9 Emergency Class Coverage
This section allows a reasonable and equitable use of prep time to cover other classes in emergencies. An emergency "is any situation which could not be anticipated." Coverage under this section is limited to three hours per year without compensation. A compensation rate is set for any additional hours. A lack of planning does not constitute an emergency. For example, being asked to cover a class for an IEP participant is not an emergency since the need for coverage could be anticipated.

Section 8.14: Support Staff
"8.14.1. Principals shall afford district counselors, school nurses, and in-school counselors the opportunity to attend appropriate District-sponsored professional growth activities designed for them at least twice per year.
8.14.2. Site administrators who share the services of district counselors and/or school nurses shall work together to facilitate the district counselors/nurses participation in appropriate modified day activities."

Section 8.15 Elementary Upper Grade Support Plan
"In recognition of the higher student/teacher ratio at elementary grades four, five and six, elementary principals and their certificated staff will mutually develop an annual plan, within site resources, outlining activities and strategies the total certificated staff will implement to support the instructional program in the upper grades."
Examples of supports that have been implemented include: release from supervision duties; additional prep time (where possible without reducing required time for all teachers); and, greater access to materials budgets.