17. PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

17.1 VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE

17.1.1 Salary credit for experience will be given initially for experience according to 17.3.1, 17.3.2 and 17.3.3 in this contract. Adjustments will be made as needed when verification of experience is received in the Division of Human Resources. Teachers resigning prior to verification of previous teaching experience and/or recording of a valid certificate in the Division of Human Resources shall receive a final check at the rate of pay established at the time of resignation. Checks will be withheld from teachers who have not furnished proof that they have met requirements and applied for a valid certificate at the time of employment processing. Short-term employees must record a certificate, or file application, furnishing evidence of having met requirements, prior to the release of their final check.

17.2 PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER

17.2.1 All teachers shall report in writing their name, address and telephone number to their immediate supervisor. Any change in name, address and telephone number will be reported immediately to their immediate supervisor.

17.2.2 All teachers shall report in writing changes of name name to the Professional Standards Department, and changes of address and telephone number to the data processing clerk at their work site. If a teacher changes her name, the change must be made on her teaching certificate by the State Department of Education at the teacher's next regular certificate renewal. Name Changes on records cannot be made until a new Social Security card has been recorded in the Division of Human Resources.

17.3 ALLOWABLE TEACHING EXPERIENCE

17.3.1 Teachers will be credited with up to seven years of Hillsborough County public school teaching experience. Teachers will be credited with up to seven years for related experience in a program under contract with the School Board of Hillsborough County.  Effective March 2002, teachers shall be granted experience credit for all years of experience not previously granted.

17.3.2 Teachers employed after July 1, 1981, shall be allowed up to seven years credit for previous experience in public or private schools and colleges, provided they were employed in full-time teaching positions and held at least a four year college degree during the period of employment. Effective March 2002, teachers shall be granted experience credit for all years of experience not previously granted. Non-degreed JROTC Instructors shall be eligible for up to seven years credit for previous ROTC teaching experience. Credit will not be granted for half-day teaching in private or public schools other than the Hillsborough County Public School System.

17.3.3 Any person who left a teaching position to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States during a national emergency or in the Peace Corps; and had, at the time of his entering the service or the Peace Corps, a bachelor's degree, may receive full experience credit up to five years or for the duration of the emergency.

17.4 WORK EXPERIENCE IN LIEU OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE

17.4.1 Upon entering employment with the Board, health science, data processing technology, law enforcement, firefighters, food production with Quantity Foods Certification , and industrial qualified and certified instructors may apply to the Assistant Superintendent for Technical, Career and Adult Education for work experience in the related area in lieu of teaching experience. Any work experience granted is applicable only as long as the teacher remains in the area for which the work experience was granted. For teachers employed after July 1, 1981, up to seven years of experience credit may be granted according to the provisions of this section.

17.4.2 The combined total of work and teaching experience cannot exceed seven years. Credit for teaching experience of seven years or greater shall eliminate credit for work experience.  Effective March 2002, teachers shall be granted experience credit for all years of experience not previously granted. Vocational teachers who require academic preparation will not be granted work experience credit after July 16, 1974.

17.4.3 Work experience must constitute full-time employment and credit will not be given for part-time employment. Employment for nine (9) continuous calendar months in any one year will be accepted as a year's work experience in lieu of teaching experience. Effective July 1, 1989, salary credit for pre-kindergarten and private speech therapy experience, will be granted upon verification by the Division of Human Resources, not to exceed a combined total of seven years credit.

17.5 DEFINITION OF A YEAR'S TEACHING SERVICE

17.5.1 Excepting military and professional leave, a year's credit for teaching experience shall be allowed an instructor who has served half the total plus one day of the annual paid contracted work days. A year's credit shall be allowed for each year of approved military or professional leave granted by the Board.

17.6 SALARY

17.6.1 Teachers shall be paid on a biweekly schedule which reflects their degree and experience. Degree changes that occur during the school year will be effective as of the original date the higher degree was conferred by an accredited university or college. It shall be the responsibility of the teacher to submit an official transcript to the Division of Human Resources to be placed in the teacher's personnel file confirming the degree awarded date. Salary changes will not be made until an official transcript is received and recorded in the Division of Human Resources.

17.6.2 Salary for the extended year/MSC Intersession program shall be equal to the hourly salary received during the regular school year immediately prior to the beginning of the extended year program.

17.6.3 Junior ROTC personnel shall be paid for 257 days of service under one of the following formulas. Each instructor shall select the formula he/she prefers. Once the instructor selects his/her preferred formula, that method of compensation shall remain in effect.

A. ROTC personnel will be paid in the amount, which, when added to retirement pay, will equal the amount of his/her active duty pay and allowance. Reimbursement by the Federal Government will be made at the individual's retirement pay and his/her active duty pay and allowance. The School Board will not adjust downward its portion of this contract during the contract year.

B. Regular teacher's salary based upon an appropriate rank and experience.

17.6.4 Salary and supplements shall be based upon the negotiated schedules.

17.6.5 Paychecks and W-2 forms shall be distributed within the workday in a manner to guarantee confidentiality. When necessary, paychecks and W-2 forms shall be sealed-mailed to the employee's current address.

17.6.6 The Board shall make provisions, upon request by any employee, to deposit his/her paycheck directly to a local financial institution of the employee's choice from a list approved by the School Board. Ten month employees shall have the option of having their annual salary paid over a twelve month period. Ten month employees electing this option shall sign up for the extended year payments program which will provide four (4) paychecks during the summer recess.

17.6.7 The following payroll deductions shall be shown cumulatively on the pay stubs beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year:

A. Gross Salary

B. Taxable Gross Salary

C. Withholding Taxes

D. F.I.C.A.

E. Sick Leave Balance

F. Vacation Balance

G. Extended pay year (12 month payment instead of 10)

17.6.8 Effective January 1, 2002, newly hired teachers shall be allowed ninety (90) days from start of employment to provide the district with account information for purposes of mandatory direct deposit of salary.

 17.6.9 Social Security numbers shall be secured from access.