Archive: February 2008

Elementary Modified Day Prep Time

The contract guarantees modified day preparation time at elementary schools.  This is covered in Article 8, Section 8.6.6 of the contract.  Section 8.6.6.1 states the frequency of required modified day prep time.  The two keys provisions are: that one to three modified days per month "will be set aside for elementary prep time"; and prep time will be provided "a minimum of one-half of the
available modified days in a school year."

Other key points in Section 8.6.6 include:

• Selection of the specific days set aside for prep time
  requires "consultation with the classroom teacher."  Section 8.6.6.2
  
• On designated prep times, "the site shall not schedule
  required meetings or conferences."  Section 8.6.6

Each site should be counting the number of days set aside for prep time.  Create a calendar of each modified day during the school year. Log whether or not meetings were scheduled.  Remember, some meetings may impact only a portion of the staff.  Examples might include governance team meetings, grade-level meetings or conferences.  For each staff member make sure a minimum of one-half of the modified days have been used exclusively for prep time.  SDEA has filed grievances establishing that parent conferences, pre-school meetings
and governance team meetings cannot occur on a modified day set aside for prep time.  In addition, an open house is a required meeting and therefore cannot occur on a modified day set aside for prep time.

What do to if there are too many scheduled meetings on modified days? Bring the evidence to your administrator and work on an amended schedule for the balance of the year that provides the required prep days.  If the meeting doesn't resolve the problem, contact the SDEA office.

Remember, the key question is, was I required to be at a meeting or conference on a modified day?  If the answer is, "Yes", than that modified day is not one of my guaranteed preparation days.