I am the least senior teacher in 1st grade and we are reducing a class in 1st grade, I was told I am unassigned. Can I bump the 2nd grade teacher at my school who has less seniority than me? We do not have traditional "bumping" in our contract. If there are vacancies available, you may apply for any available vacancy along with anyone on staff. The most senior applicant will receive the position and the process will continue. If you are reducing staff members at your school site, the least senior member, regardless of grade level, will become displaced. This position will be advertised and anyone on site may apply. The most senior applicant will receive the position and the process will continue.
I teach Kindergarten and have been unassigned. The least senior member on staff is in 5th grade, but I don't want to teach upper grade. What are my options? When reducing teaching staff is necessary, the principal should first ask for volunteers. You may volunteer to displace yourself. Displaced teachers will have an exclusive opportunity to select district wide vacancies after the first round of district wide transfers.
I heard a TK is moving from another site to my site. Will the teacher come with the class? No, unlike SPED the teacher does not follow with the class. The teacher will maintain site rights at the current site. The new TK will be advertised at the new site. Keep in mind the following as a result of SB 876: Credentialed teachers who are first assigned to a TK classroom after July 1, 2015 must have one of the following by August 2020. 1. A minimum of 24 ECE or child development units. 2. A child development teacher permit issued by the CTC. 3. Professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children comparable to 24 units. 4. Any current credentialed teacher who was assigned to teach TK or a combination class of kindergarten and TK, on or before 7/1/15 is "grandfathered in" to teach TK without having to meet additional requirements.
My school is reducing a 1st and a 2nd, but adding a 1/2 combo, who gets the 1/2 combo? Please contact the Union President for help, this may be more complicated than FAQ.
Does the combo teacher have any special considerations? Yes, all combination teachers receive a stipend of $1000 paid over 11 months. In addition, 4/5 combo teachers have their class size capped at 30 students.
I am attending a training during the school day that is expected to last all day. My principal asked me to come back to school to attend staff meeting after my training. Do I have to return to school? This was recently clarified with the Asst. Sup. of HR. You do not have to attend staff meeting following an all day off site training.
I am an SEI teacher and I am interested in adding BCLAD certification to stay at my DLI school. Does the District have a program to help me get a BCLAD?
On page 80 of the OEA Contract, the District will reimburse up to 16 hours for Bilingual/Bicultural methods and 16 hours for Spanish and the reimburse the test fees. The contract currently covers teachers teaching in bicultural classrooms but HR has extended this option to any teachers who currently teach in OSD. Please contact HR, if you are interested.
Do I really have to attend a mandatory training after school or on a Saturday?
No, any truly mandatory training must also be offered during the duty day. A reason why you cannot attend after school or on Saturday is not required.
I am an ISP and I am often pulled to substitute in a class when no substitute shows us. I feel it is unfair to the students I was hired to serve. What should I do?
It is a violation of the contract to use ISP to substitute during scheduled ISP time, unless they are asked and agree to it, and receive the member substitute rate of pay currently $156 (which would extend their ISP contract by one day).
The bell to begin instruction rings at 8:00. At my school, teachers meet their students on the playground. How much time do I have to get there?
When the bell rings to begin instruction, you need to be wherever your students are. So, if you teach lower grades and meet them on the yard, you should be on the yard at that time. If you teach middle school and meet them in your classroom, you should make sure your classroom door is open when the bell rings.
I called in a half day substitute and no one showed up. What should I do? I had an appointment I couldn't miss.
Let your principal and office manager know in advance so that in the event no one picks up the job, you will be covered and it won't be a surprise for the administration.
What is the difference between Sick Leave and Personal Necessity Leave?
Sick leave is for personal illness or illness of a bargaining unit member's family. This includes doctor's appointments that must be made during school time. PNS refers to personal emergency or necessity as in accidents, court appearance and individual or family responsibilities (wedding, graduations, family reunions, etc). Should you decide to use PNS, you must notify your principal in advance by filling out the form available at your site (this does not require permission, only notification). Keep in mind, if you are out of available days, Sick Leave/Medical is deducted as differential pay (your per diem, minus the cost of the sub), PNS is deducted as full per diem. Per the CBA Article VI: Under no circumstances, shall the leave be available for purposes of extending a holiday or vacation period, for recreational purposes or for a work stoppage or slow-down.
I am going to have a baby soon, how much time can I take off for Maternity Leave?
The length of your Pregnancy Disability Leave is determined by your doctor (usually 6 to 8 weeks, but could be longer). During this time you will use your sick leave, then you will receive differential pay (the difference between your salary and the amount paid to a substitute teacher) for any remaining time you are under a doctor's care once your sick leave is exhausted. After that, you can elect to use up to 12 weeks for Child Bonding Leave. You will receive differential pay without a doctor's note. Please contact Mayra Magana in Risk Management to discuss leaves.
A teacher at my school is planning to retire, but for personal reasons probably won't do it until late this summer. I am interested in her position. Will I be able to transfer to it?
If the position is advertised before the first day of the new school year, you can apply to transfer. Otherwise, the position is filled with a temporary, or probationary employee, and will be advertised on site and district-wide the following year.
A teacher recently transferred to my site during the transfer process. A new position was later advertised only to the site and she took it. Does she have site rights?
Once a teacher has transferred to a new site, they have all the same rights for transfer as all the teachers at that site. They do not retain transfer rights at their former site.
I started my job at the beginning of the school year, but I received a call from Human Resources saying I have no site rights to my current current position and have to apply when jobs are advertised district-wide. Why do I have to transfer?
Because the position became available late and was never advertised to the current staff, you have no rights to the position. Our contract allows the district to hire probationary employees into that position but it must be advertised in the ensuing school year to all teaching staff. You may apply for any open position at the time of district-wide transfers.
I teach Kindergarten and have been unassigned. The least senior member on staff is in 5th grade, but I don't want to teach upper grade. What are my options? When reducing teaching staff is necessary, the principal should first ask for volunteers. You may volunteer to displace yourself. Displaced teachers will have an exclusive opportunity to select district wide vacancies after the first round of district wide transfers.
I heard a TK is moving from another site to my site. Will the teacher come with the class? No, unlike SPED the teacher does not follow with the class. The teacher will maintain site rights at the current site. The new TK will be advertised at the new site. Keep in mind the following as a result of SB 876: Credentialed teachers who are first assigned to a TK classroom after July 1, 2015 must have one of the following by August 2020. 1. A minimum of 24 ECE or child development units. 2. A child development teacher permit issued by the CTC. 3. Professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children comparable to 24 units. 4. Any current credentialed teacher who was assigned to teach TK or a combination class of kindergarten and TK, on or before 7/1/15 is "grandfathered in" to teach TK without having to meet additional requirements.
My school is reducing a 1st and a 2nd, but adding a 1/2 combo, who gets the 1/2 combo? Please contact the Union President for help, this may be more complicated than FAQ.
Does the combo teacher have any special considerations? Yes, all combination teachers receive a stipend of $1000 paid over 11 months. In addition, 4/5 combo teachers have their class size capped at 30 students.
I am attending a training during the school day that is expected to last all day. My principal asked me to come back to school to attend staff meeting after my training. Do I have to return to school? This was recently clarified with the Asst. Sup. of HR. You do not have to attend staff meeting following an all day off site training.
I am an SEI teacher and I am interested in adding BCLAD certification to stay at my DLI school. Does the District have a program to help me get a BCLAD?
On page 80 of the OEA Contract, the District will reimburse up to 16 hours for Bilingual/Bicultural methods and 16 hours for Spanish and the reimburse the test fees. The contract currently covers teachers teaching in bicultural classrooms but HR has extended this option to any teachers who currently teach in OSD. Please contact HR, if you are interested.
Do I really have to attend a mandatory training after school or on a Saturday?
No, any truly mandatory training must also be offered during the duty day. A reason why you cannot attend after school or on Saturday is not required.
I am an ISP and I am often pulled to substitute in a class when no substitute shows us. I feel it is unfair to the students I was hired to serve. What should I do?
It is a violation of the contract to use ISP to substitute during scheduled ISP time, unless they are asked and agree to it, and receive the member substitute rate of pay currently $156 (which would extend their ISP contract by one day).
The bell to begin instruction rings at 8:00. At my school, teachers meet their students on the playground. How much time do I have to get there?
When the bell rings to begin instruction, you need to be wherever your students are. So, if you teach lower grades and meet them on the yard, you should be on the yard at that time. If you teach middle school and meet them in your classroom, you should make sure your classroom door is open when the bell rings.
I called in a half day substitute and no one showed up. What should I do? I had an appointment I couldn't miss.
Let your principal and office manager know in advance so that in the event no one picks up the job, you will be covered and it won't be a surprise for the administration.
What is the difference between Sick Leave and Personal Necessity Leave?
Sick leave is for personal illness or illness of a bargaining unit member's family. This includes doctor's appointments that must be made during school time. PNS refers to personal emergency or necessity as in accidents, court appearance and individual or family responsibilities (wedding, graduations, family reunions, etc). Should you decide to use PNS, you must notify your principal in advance by filling out the form available at your site (this does not require permission, only notification). Keep in mind, if you are out of available days, Sick Leave/Medical is deducted as differential pay (your per diem, minus the cost of the sub), PNS is deducted as full per diem. Per the CBA Article VI: Under no circumstances, shall the leave be available for purposes of extending a holiday or vacation period, for recreational purposes or for a work stoppage or slow-down.
I am going to have a baby soon, how much time can I take off for Maternity Leave?
The length of your Pregnancy Disability Leave is determined by your doctor (usually 6 to 8 weeks, but could be longer). During this time you will use your sick leave, then you will receive differential pay (the difference between your salary and the amount paid to a substitute teacher) for any remaining time you are under a doctor's care once your sick leave is exhausted. After that, you can elect to use up to 12 weeks for Child Bonding Leave. You will receive differential pay without a doctor's note. Please contact Mayra Magana in Risk Management to discuss leaves.
A teacher at my school is planning to retire, but for personal reasons probably won't do it until late this summer. I am interested in her position. Will I be able to transfer to it?
If the position is advertised before the first day of the new school year, you can apply to transfer. Otherwise, the position is filled with a temporary, or probationary employee, and will be advertised on site and district-wide the following year.
A teacher recently transferred to my site during the transfer process. A new position was later advertised only to the site and she took it. Does she have site rights?
Once a teacher has transferred to a new site, they have all the same rights for transfer as all the teachers at that site. They do not retain transfer rights at their former site.
I started my job at the beginning of the school year, but I received a call from Human Resources saying I have no site rights to my current current position and have to apply when jobs are advertised district-wide. Why do I have to transfer?
Because the position became available late and was never advertised to the current staff, you have no rights to the position. Our contract allows the district to hire probationary employees into that position but it must be advertised in the ensuing school year to all teaching staff. You may apply for any open position at the time of district-wide transfers.