9. WORK YEAR AND HOURS

9.1 Work Year

9.1.1 The number of work days per year for paraprofessionals and Hearing Technicians shall be 190 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, paraprofessionals and Hearing Technicians shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.2 The number of work days per year for full-time Instructors and Assistant Teachers shall be 190 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, these employees shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.3 The number of work days per year for DEES Attendants and DEES Attendant Riders employed before July 29, 1991, shall be 184 days as determined by the School Board calendar. The number of work days per year for DEES Attendants and DEES Attendant Riders employed after July 29, 1991, shall be 180 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, DEES Attendants and DEES Attendant Riders shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.4 The number of work days per year for ten month clericals (unless otherwise noted below) shall be 199 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, ten month clericals shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.5 The number of work days per year for Middle School Bookkeepers shall be 203 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, Middle School Bookkeepers shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.6 The number of work days per year for Senior High Bookkeepers and Health Assistants shall be 205 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, Senior High Bookkeepers and Health Assistants shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.7 The number of work days per year for Elementary Data Processing Clerks and Registrars shall be 207 days as determined by the School Board Calendar. In addition, Elementary Data Processing Clerks and Registrars shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.8 The number of work days per year for Physical and Occupational Therapy Assistants shall be 218 days as determined by the School Board calendar. In addition, Physical and Occupational Therapy Assistants shall be paid for six holidays.

9.1.9 The work year for 12 month ESP employees shall be determined by the School Board calendars for 12 month employees. These calendars shall include thirteen paid holidays.

9.1.10 Except in cases of unit loss, ESP employees shall be given reasonable notice if their work year is to change from less than twelve months to twelve months or from twelve months to less than twelve months.

9.2 Regular Duty Hours

9.2.1 During the regular school year, the workday for full time clericals shall be eight hours including two fifteen-minute paid breaks. School based clericals shall be provided a non-paid thirty-minute duty-free lunch beyond the eight hour day. Non-school based clericals shall be provided a non-paid forty-five minute duty-free lunch beyond the eight hour day.

9.2.2 Except in emergencies, clericals shall be given at least two weeks' notice of any changes to be made in their regular work schedules.

9.2.3 The work day for full-time paraprofessionals shall be seven hours and thirty minutes including thirty-minutes, duty-free, paid lunch. Paraprofessionals are not entitled to breaks.

9.2.4 The work day for Instructors and Assistant Teachers shall be seven hours and thirty minutes including thirty minutes, duty-free, paid lunch. Instructors and Assistant Teachers are not entitled to breaks.

9.2.5 The work day for DEES Attendants employed before July 29, 1991, shall be seven and one-half hours excluding their non-paid lunch period. The work day for DEES Attendants employed after July 29, 1991, shall be seven hours excluding their non-paid lunch period. The work day for DEES Attendant Riders shall be a guaranteed minimum of five hours excluding their non-paid lunch period. Required work time beyond the five hour minimum shall also be paid.

9.2.6 The work day for Hearing Technicians shall be seven and one-half hours excluding their non-paid lunch period.

9.2.7 The work day for Physical Therapy Assistants, Health Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants shall be eight hours including their paid lunch period.

9.2.8 The work day for Vocational Placement Advisors shall be eight hours excluding their non-paid lunch period.

9.2.9 Each full-time paraprofessional shall be provided a minimum of thirty minutes for duty-free lunch period.

9.2.10 All full-time DEES Attendants, Hearing Technicians, and Vocational Paraprofessionals, shall receive two fifteen-minute paid breaks within their regular paid work hours.

9.2.11 Paraprofessionals shall be notified of their tentative schedule, or grade level assignment for the ensuing year as soon as the master schedule is prepared. In addition, they will be notified of any changes in their tentative program, schedule, or grade level assignment for the ensuing year, including the school to which they will be assigned, as soon as practicable.

9.2.12 Changes in assignment within groups of paraprofessionals may be made at the discretion of the principal at the beginning of each school year. Changes in assignment within groups during the year shall only be made due to extenuating circumstances.

9.2.13 Changes in assignment from one paraprofessional group to another shall only be made if both the principal and the paraprofessional agree to the change.

9.2.14 ESP assignments shall be made without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, or membership in any organization. Qualifications and experience levels of ESP employees will be given consideration in terms of school, schedule, program, or grade level assignment.

9.2.15 The lengths of day for ESP employees is the same on non-student days as it is on regular student days. However, school-based ESP employees shall be allowed to use compensatory time, personal day time, vacation time, and/or non-paid personal time on these days in order to match the work day of teachers.

9.3 Overtime Duty Hours

9.3.1 Clericals shall normally be given at least one day's notice that overtime duty is necessary. If an emergency precludes one day's notice, the employee shall be given consideration for child care and scheduled appointments. Clericals shall not be required to work more than fourteen hours during any twenty-four hour period.

9.3.2 Clericals shall have the option of taking a non-paid meal break during overtime duty after eight hours of regular duty. Clericals working overtime duty on a non-workday shall have a non-paid meal break after every four hours of overtime duty. A fifteen minute paid break will be given for every two hours of overtime duty not coinciding with meal breaks.

9.3.3 Except in emergencies, when danger to the health or well-being of employees, students or other persons could occur or when danger to School Board property is imminent, all overtime duty must be approved by the clerical's principal/supervisor prior to being performed.

9.3.4 Paraprofessionals (except DEES Attendant Riders and part-time O.T./P.T. Assistants) shall only work and be given compensatory time (see Section 6.2.2) in cases where emergencies have made it necessary for them to work beyond their normal time as approved and assigned by their supervisor. The only exception to this emergency provision is noted in Section 18.2.2.

9.4 Job Sharing

9.4.1 Purpose of the Program

The Hillsborough County Job Sharing Program is intended to assist in recruiting and retaining qualified paraprofessionals in the district. This program will be a pilot program with a duration of two years. Prior to the end of the pilot, a review of the program will be held to determine the usage of the program by eligible employees and the success of the program as determined by the participants and users of the program.

9.4.2 Eligibility Criteria

a. A paraprofessional who has been employed for three continuous years and who has demonstrated satisfactory job performance for that period of employment and,

b. A paraprofessional returning from maternity, adoption, family care, or medical leaves, or

c. A paraprofessional anticipating retirement within one year of the year for which he/she applies for consideration for this program, or

d. A currently employed paraprofessional seeking teacher certification in a critical shortage area, or

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

f. A currently employed paraprofessional desiring a temporary half-time position for maternity, adoption, family care, personal or medical reasons.

9.4.3 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 3 hours 45 minutes per day for an aggregate of 18 hours and 45 minutes per week. Any deviation from the 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 or the principal's designee, consistent with the job description and experience of the paraprofessional

c. A job sharing participant shall be eligible to work a minimum of 3 hours 45 minutes.

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

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

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

g. Job share paraprofessionals would substitute for the absent partner when possible.

h. The job sharing applicants are responsible for finding their own partners from within their current work place.

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

9.4.4 Computation of Salary for Job Sharing Participants

Payment and benefits for the job share participants period of employment shall be computed as follows:

a. Payment shall equal 50 percent of the individual's salary based on experience for total days worked based on Job classification and 50 percent of the individual's salary for non-pupil days designated for the job classification.

b. In addition to the above salary amounts, the paraprofessional shall also receive:

1. Sick leave computed at the rate of one-half day per month for each month worked.
2. Two (2) days of personal leave charged to accumulated sick leave per year.

c. One job share paraprofessional may elect Board-provided single employee coverage, subject to the Board's cap on contributions, while the other job share paraprofessional must elect to forgo 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 paraprofessional shall be one-half of the job share paraprofessional'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 paraprofessional to one year of service on the salary schedule.

9.4.5 Notification of Applicants

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