HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

and

SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

CONTRACT

WHEREAS, both of the parties to this Agreement are desirous of reaching an amicable understanding with respect to the employer-employee relationship which exists between them and to enter into an agreement covering wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment; and

WHEREAS, it is intended that the following Agreement shall be an implementation of the provisions of FS 447.100, consistent with the constitutional authority and responsibility of the School Board of Hillsborough County and the statutes of the State of Florida and the amendments thereto and insofar as applicable, the Administrative rules of the Department of Education 6A and amendments thereof,

NOW THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed as follows:

1 NEGOTIATIONS PROCEDURE

1.1 UParties To The Agreement

1.1.1 This agreement is made and entered into pursuant to the provisions of negotiation statutes governing public school teachers, FS 447.100, by and between the School Board of Hillsborough County herein referred to as the Board, and the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, herein referred to as the Association.

1.1.2 The School Board/Association contract shall be the document, which governs wages and hours, terms and conditions of employment for employees in the unit. Any policy, procedure, guideline or administrative directive in conflict with said contract shall be considered null and void. Faculty handbooks, county‑wide publications and other guides shall conform to the provisions of the contract.

1.2 UResponsibilities Of The Parties

1.2.1 Upon conclusion of negotiations, the respective parties shall implement the ratification process as outlined under the applicable provisions of PERC Rule Chapter 38D-20.

1.2.2 In the event of a declaration of impasse, all applicable provisions of FS 447 and PERC Rule Chapter 38D-19 shall be implemented.

1.3 URecognition

1.3.1 The School Board of Hillsborough County (hereinafter referred to as the Board) hereby recognizes the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association) and agrees that the Association shall be the exclusive bargaining agent for classroom teachers, guidance counselors, pupil personnel (exceptional child, social workers), curriculum coordinators, team leaders, department heads, vocational teachers, occupational specialists, media specialists, teachers of the homebound, teachers of the migrants, case workers, diagnosticians, psychologists, ROTC instructors, hereafter referred to as teachers.

1.3.2 The appropriateness of any new class or division of employees belonging to the bargaining unit shall be determined jointly by the Board and the Association. If agreement is not possible, the matter shall be referred to the Public Employees Relations Commission.

1.4 UExclusivity

1.4.1 Organization rights pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 447.09 are granted to the certified exclusive bargaining agent, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, and such rights shall not be granted to any other association, union or employee organization.

2 WORK YEAR AND HOURS

2.1 UWork Year

2.1.1 The work year shall be 201199 days for ten month teachers, 206 days for ten and one-half month teachers, 216 days for eleven month teachers, and 253 days for twelve month teachers as determined by the School Board Calendar.

2.1.2 Teachers assigned to new positions during the regular school year may be required to attend additional inservice orientation sessions. Sessions shall be conducted within the regular workday.

2.1.3 Teachers shall not be required to attend any meetings away from the school center on the Tteacher Wworkday as designated by the official school calendar. This day is specifically set aside to enable teachers to work on classroom duties.

2.1.4 New or vacant positions contracted for eleven or twelve months shall be advertised on the job line.the district’s web site.

2.1.5 Teachers shall be afforded professional discretion regarding the use of Pprofessional Study Ddays. Each teacher shall have the option to select from in‑service meetings within his/her present area of assignment/certification.

2.1.6 School Social Workers and Student Services Personnel shall be provided specialized in-service training on any designated Pprofessional Studyplanning Ddays.

2.1.7 In addition to regular Pre-K training and in-service, Pre-K teachers shall be afforded the same opportunities as regular classroom teachers to attend in-service training on Pprofessional Sstudy Ddays.

2.1.8 Teachers shall be granted the right to utilize flexible working hours on non-student days, other than Pprofessional Studyplanning Ddays, with the approval of the site administrator.

2.1.9 The District shall establish three (3) two early release days. These days will be assigned to the last day of the first nine weeks, the last day of the third nine weeks, and the last day of the school year. Early release days shall be designated as teacher work time. This will establish a work period at the end of every nine weeks. There already exists a full work day at the end of the first semester (second nine weeks). The scheduling of early release days may be changed upon consultation agreement between the School District of Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association.

2.2 UVacations For Twelve‑Month Teachers

2.2.1 All twelve‑month teachers with up to five years continuous service will be entitled to thirteen days annual vacation; teachers with five to ten years continuous service shall be eligible for 16.25 days vacation annually; teachers who have ten or more years of continuous service shall be eligible for 19.5 days vacation annually. Vacation leave is cumulative, not to exceed eighty (80) days. Accrued vacation will be paid out at the time of termination in accordance with normal payroll schedules and subject to the payout limitations under state statutes.

2.2.2 Employee vacation requests shall be granted whenever possible. Vacations shall normally be taken during the summer months and on non-student days during the regular school year.

2.3 UHolidays

2.3.1 The school holidays and the school year shall be determined by the Board when it adopts the annual school calendar and shall be named in the calendar. If emergency holidays are granted, the time missed must be made up by reduction of time designated as “vacation” on the annual calendar.

2.3.2 The Board shall grant to all teachers working less than twelve months six paid holidays each school year.

2.3.3 Teachers must be working or be on paid leave or illness beyond accrued sick leave for less than thirty (30) working days to receive paid holidays. Teachers cannot begin employment nor return from extended leave on a paid holiday. If teachers resign (except for retirement) on a non‑work day, the effective date of resignation will be at the end of their last work day.

2.4 UDuty Hours

2.4.1 The duty day for teachers shall be seven eight hours and thirty-five minutes, except for those positions contracted for an eight hour duty day as agreed to by the Board and the Association.

The normal hourly duty day for seven hours and thirty-five minute eight hour teachers shall be followed during pre-planning, post-planning and teacher workday. On the fall Professional Study Day and conference nights, the length of day for seven hour and thirty-five minute eight hour teachers shall be six hours, including one hour for lunch.

On election days in Hillsborough County, no faculty or other school related meetings shall be held beyond the normal workday.

Schools shall not schedule conference nights or open house on the second Thursday of any month except in a case of emergency. The exception must be approved by the Assistant Superintendent for Administration.

2.4.2 Compensation on the basic salary schedule shall be based on seven hours and thirty‑five minuteseight hours of scheduled time. The Association and Board agree to develop criteria for the payment of supplemental salaries for teachers over and above the amount reflected in the contracted, basic salary schedule.

2.4.3 Teaching time in secondary schools shall be a maximum of 300 minutes per day. This should include classes in not more than two subject areas nor more than three teacher preparations except in cases where unusual circumstances require exception. Such exceptions must be approved by the appropriate assistant superintendent after the Association has been advised of the unusual circumstance.

2.4.4.4 An accounting procedure related to teachers reporting for work shall be developed and implemented by Department Heads, Team Leaders or Grade Chairmen working in conjunction with their teachers. Such procedure shall be submitted to the building administrator for approval prior to implementation, but will not be used for payroll calculations..

2.5 UTeaching An Additional Period For Compensation

2.5.1 Current teachers may be employed, on a voluntary basis, to teach an additional period when the need exists.

2.5.2 When the need exists teachers presently employed full‑time maytime may be employed for an additional period provided that their regular day is extended by the equivalent of one period.

2.5.3 Each school shall secure a list of all teachers in the school who desire to teach an extra paid period.

2.5.4 When a department needs an additional class taught, certified teachers outside of the department may teach the additional class only if no one in the department is available.

2.5.5 Teachers teaching an additional period shall be compensated for an extra hour per day based on their regular hourly rate.

2.5.6 Teachers teaching an additional period shall receive pay while on professional duty elsewhere.

2.6 ULength Of Day For Supplemented Teachers Administrative Resource Teachers

2.6.1 Supplemented teachers, including Patrol Sponsor, as identified in the Hillsborough County Salary Schedule Supplement List, are to be on duty for eight hours daily, including lunch. Excluded from the eight‑hour schedule are club sponsors (not Patrol Sponsor), Music Directors, and Middle and Elementary School Team Leaders.

2.6.21 District Administrative Resource Teachers are to be on duty for eight hours and forty-five minutes daily, including lunch. School‑based Administrative Resource Teachers are to be on duty eight hours, including lunch.

2.6.3 Department heads shall be limited to one all day out of school group meeting per month except in cases of emergency.

2.7 UPlanning And Lunch Periods

2.7.1 Teachers shall have planning time during which they will not be responsible for students, attendance at faculty meetings, or be assigned to other duties except for emergencies. The school office shall maintain a duty roster available for teacher examination, to ascertain the equity of emergency assignments.

2.7.2 Secondary teachers (6-12) shall have a scheduled planning period of at least one full period during one-half the school year. During the other half, their planning period may be shortened to forty‑five consecutive minutes in order to complete duty assignments, as may be necessary to ensure student safety. Such duty assignments shall be posted. (Exceptions may be necessary during lunch period supervision if other alternatives have been exhausted).

Secondary teachers (6-12) in schools with planning periods of 55 minutes or less shall have no duty assignments during their planning period.

Secondary teachers (6-12) in schools with planning periods of at least 60 minutes shall have a scheduled planning period of at least one full period during half the school year. During one half of the school year, their planning period may be shortened to forty-five consecutive minutes in order to complete duty assignments, as may be necessary to ensure student safety. Such duty assignments shall be posted. (Exceptions may be

necessary during lunch period supervision if other alternatives have been exhausted.)

In secondary schools (6-12) where the schedule permits a 50 minute lunch period, teachers may be assigned a maximum of

15 minutes duty for student supervision for half the school year during lunch or a comparable duty assignment within the regular teacher day except those times set aside specifically for teacher planning. (See contract section 2.7.1, 2.7.3)

2.7.3 Secondary teachers in schools with seven student instructional periods shall have a scheduled planning period of at least one full period per day.

2.7.4 Planning time for Middle school teachers, working on teams, shall normally be scheduled to accommodate team planning.

Planning time for Middle school teachers, working on teams, shall normally be scheduled to accommodate team planning.

2.7..45 Elementary teachers, K-5, shall be provided with a weekly minimum of two and one‑half hours of planning time within the student day (equivalent to thirty minutes per day). Elementary teachers’ planning time shall take place before or after the student day and during the day when students are with special services teachers or in the case of kindergarten teachers when an aide is present..

2.7.56 Whenever possible, eWhenever possible, elementary teachers shall not be required to teach more than three hours without a break.

2.7.67 It is normal for teachers to be in their work area during their planning period. However, they shall not be restricted to their room or work area during the entire planning period.

2.7.78 Each teacher shall be provided a minimum of thirty minutes for a duty‑free lunch period.

2.7.89 In addition to the time specified for planning and lunch, Department Heads shall be provided with a minimum of one full period per day of non‑student contact time.

2.7.910 Secondary homeroom assignments shall be distributed fairly.

2.7.1011 Teachers shall not be assigned office duties except as voluntary duty or in case of emergency.

2.8 USchedule Notification

2.8.1 Teachers shall be notified of their tentative program schedule, including planning period (senior high), or grade level assignment for the ensuing year prior to the initial spring transfer period. In addition, they will be notified of any changes in their tentative program, schedule, or grade level assignment for the ensuing year, including the schools to which they will be assigned, as soon as practicable. No teacher shall be transferred from a non-classroom position requiring specific certification or license to a classroom without the consent of the teacher.

2.8.2 Teacher schedules shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, marital status, or membership in any teacher organization. Qualifications and experience levels of teachers will be given consideration in terms of school, schedule, program, or grade level assignment.

Normally, no more than four (4) consecutive classes shall be assigned to special services teachers.

2.8.3 A faculty shall be given at least three days’ notice before a change is made in a school’s class or bell schedule except in emergency cases. A change in a school’s class or bell schedule shall accommodate a teacher’s right to have duty-free lunch and guaranteed planning during the normal student day. Any exceptions shall be submitted to the appropriate Area Director for approval who shall then notify the Association.

2.9 UStudent Services

2.9.1 Student Services personnel shall normally be assigned to no more than three school sites.

2.9.2 Student Services personnel shall not be subject to quotas regarding assessments or reports.

2.9.3 Student Services personnel shall be offered extended year and day contracts and supplemented services contracts appropriate to the district needs prior to the district contracting out.

2.10 USchedules For Multi‑School Teachers And Certificated Support Personnel

2.10.1 In arranging schedules for personnel who are assigned to more than one school, an effort shall be made to limit the amount of interschool travel. Such personnel shall be notified of any change in their schedules by June 1st of each year. Any exception to this must be approved by the appropriate Assistant Superintendent. Personnel shall have their schedules arranged so that on paydays they are assigned to their respective home schools.

2.10.2 Teachers with multi‑school assignments shall be assigned extra duties as would be appropriate to any other faculty member on a pro‑rata basis.

2.10.3 A multi‑school teacher or certificated support personnel’s geographical area of assignment shall be considered permanent for a school year. Personnel may be transferred administratively as contained in Section 11.3. If a program is to be increased or decreased during the year, geographical area changes may be made.

2.10.4 When a teaching vacancy exists for a cluster assignment, personnel within the department may apply for a transfer to such vacancy.

2.11 UJob Sharing

2.11.1 Purpose Of The Program

The Hillsborough County Job Sharing Program is intended to assist in recruiting and maintaining qualified teachers in the district.

2.11.2 Eligibility Criteria

A. A teacher returning from maternity, adoption, family care, or medical leave.

B. A teacher anticipating retirement within one year of the year for which he/she applies for consideration for this program.

C. A teacher seeking certification in a critical shortage area.

D. A retiree from Hillsborough County Schools who has satisfied the statutory time limitations necessary for full employment.

E. A teacher desiring a temporary half-time position for maternity, adoption, family care, personal, or medical reasons.

2.11.3 Conditions of Employment for Job Sharing Candidates

The conditions of employment for participation in the Job Sharing Program shall be as follows:

A. The period of assignment shall be half of the scheduled hours per day for an aggregate of half of the work week. Any deviation from this schedule must be approved in advance by the Division of Human Resources.

B. The schedule of duties and assignment shall be made at the building level by the principal, consistent with the certification and experience of the teacher.

C. A job sharing participant shall be eligible to teach work a minimum of 3 4 hours or three (3) periods of instruction.

D. The teacher must be fully certificated to teach in the area in which he/she is to be considered for placement.

E. A candidate must indicate his/her interest in participation in the program by July 15 of the fiscal year for consideration. Application shall be made on forms available through the Division of Human Resources.

F. A teacher may participate in the Job Sharing Program upon recommendation of the principal. The teacher must reapply and be approved by the Board each year.

G. Teachers on job share will not be granted long-term leaves, except for unforeseen medical emergencies.

H. Job share teachers would substitute for absent partner when possible and receive a half day of substitute pay for the additional service.

I. The job sharing applicants are responsible for finding their own partners. If either partner leaves the job share, then the job share is dissolved and the remaining partner must assume full responsibility of that position.

J. In the event of retirement or death of a job share participant, the terminal pay shall be computed as a full share equivalent.

K. The school that loses a job share partner will hold that teacher’s position for two years. At the inception of a third year of job share, that partner shall be placed in the district level pool for placement upon return to full-time.

2.11.4 Computation of Salary for Job Sharing Participants

The period of service for purposes of this program shall be 201 199 days. Payment and benefits for this period of employment shall be computed as follows:

A. Payment shall equal 50 percent of the individual’s salary based on degree and experience for 190 188 days and 100 percent of the individual’s salary for 11 non-pupil days.

B. In addition to the above salary amounts, the teacher shall also receive:

1. Sick leave computed at the rate of one-half day per month for each month worked.

2. Five (5) half‑days of personal leave charged to accumulated sick leave per year.

C. One job share teacher may elect Board-provided single employee coverage, subject to the Board’s cap on contributions, while the other job share teacher must elect to forego Board-provided single employee medical coverage. (Note: An employee who is not eligible for Board-provided single employee medical coverage is also not eligible for dependent medical coverage.) Applicants may choose to split the cost of the Board-sponsored single employee premium. If this option is elected, the premium for each job share teacher shall be one-half of the job share teacher’s single employee medical coverage. This option may not be changed during the school year.

D. Non-optional employee benefits (Social Security, Medicare, Retirement, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation and life insurance) shall be based upon the reduced salary. Negotiated time off benefits (sick leave, vacation, paid holidays) will accrue on a pro rata (50 percent) basis, based upon the reduced salary.

E. Assignments will constitute, for salary purposes, more than one-half of the school year thus entitling the teacher to one year of service on the salary schedule (it should be noted that years of service in this program shall not satisfy the three year requirements for tenure).

2.11.5 UNotification of Applicants

Upon receipt of the names of those selected, each teacher will be assigned and given a notice of employment outlining the period of service and the salary as defined above.

2.12 USchool Choice

2.12.1 Teachers shall be permitted to enroll or transfer their children, or children for whom they are legally responsible, in a school of their choice, space permitting. This will not exempt them from existing eligibility requirements. Teachers may enroll their children in the school in which they teach in any program which does not require special application process. Teachers’ children will be given priority status for all programs in the teacher’s school that do require a special application process.

2.13 UDress Code

2.13.1 The School Board and the Association agree that although there is no official dress code for teachers, teachers are to be professional in their dress and personal grooming.

3 TEACHER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 UAccountability

3.1.1 School Improvement Plan waivers shall be considered part and parcel to the collective bargaining agreement.

3.1.2 Faculties shall be afforded maximum flexibility for purposes of implementation.

3.1.3 All SAC waiver proposals at a site shall be approved by secret ballot vote and monitored by a CTA Association Representative.

3.2 ULesson Plans

3.2.1 The principal or his designee may request teachers to submit a copy of their lesson plans or outlines used for the teaching week at the end of the last day of that teaching week. The principal may request the copies at the end of a particular unit. Teachers shall use the county elementary lesson plan or secondary lesson plan outline format. The teacher’s plans are to be used as a guide in order to fulfill the county’s instructional objectives and to assist the teacher in conducting a planned instructional program. Current lesson plans shall be available in the classroom for inspection at all times. Teachers shall not be routinely required to submit a copy of their lesson plans or outlines to the site administrator.

3.2.2 In the event a teacher is absent, it shall be the teacher’s responsibility to have lesson plans at the school prior to the start of the pupil day to cover the period of absence not to exceed the balance of the week in which the absence occurred.

3.2.3 If the principal or his designee, through documented classroom observation, determines that a teacher is having difficulty with classroom instruction or is not meeting instructional objectives, the principal, as part of a professional improvement program, shall hold a conference with the teacher having difficulty. The principal, as part of this professional improvement program, may require lesson plans to be turned in at the start of each week during this period by written memo stating deficiencies and suggestions for improvement.

3.2.4 Unit members assigned to assist in the development of Individual Educational Plans (IEP’s) shall be released from other non-classroom assignments for that purpose.

3.2.5 Unit members whose duties would be impacted by an Individual Educational Plan shall be provided with opportunity to serve on the team responsible for developing, reviewing, and/or revising such program.

3.3 UParent Conference Day

3.3.1 Parent conferences shall be scheduled after school and at night. This time shall not exceed five hours and shall be in lieu of work time on the scheduled parent conference day. The school parent conference day will be a paid holiday if parent conferences are held as scheduled in this item.

3.3.2 If a teacher cannot comply with the afternoon or evening schedule for parent conferences, the teacher shall inform the administrator, and notify the parents of his/her students. The teacher and the administrator will attempt to identify an alternative time for the scheduling of these conferences which is mutually agreeable to both parties. In the event a mutually agreeable time is not available, the teacher shall report to work on the day that is designated as parent conference day on the Payroll Schedule.

3.3.3 Schools shall not schedule conference nights or open house on the second Thursday of any month except in a case of emergency. The exception mus