Merit Increases (a) Subject to documented assessment and performance review undertaken pursuant to the Performance Management System, an employee on anniversary date may be granted an increase of up to five pay increments in the pay scale, not to exceed the control point maximum.
(b) The Employer shall notify the employee in writing when an annual increment(s) is not granted or when an annual increment of less than two (2) increments is granted. Such notice shall contain the Employer’s reason(s) as to why the employee’s work performance was not satisfactory.
(c) An employee who has not been granted a merit increase shall have the right to refer their performance evaluation to the Director of Human Resources or designate for review by the Review Committee that has been established in the employing department. The employee shall have the right to make written submission to the Review Committee.
(d) At the discretion of the Deputy Head, anniversary date merit increases, or portions thereof may be delayed and granted at a subsequent date, without change to the employee’s anniversary date.
(e) Where an employee is not granted a pay increment(s) due to an omission or error, the employee shall be granted the increase on a subsequent date, retroactive to their anniversary date for such increment(s).
(f) The number of merit increase pay increments granted for part-time or seasonal employees should be pro-rated or delayed in relation to length or work periods. Merit increase pay increments for part-time employees shall be determined in accordance with Article 33.03.
(g) Employees paid at or above the control point maximum of the pay range are ineligible for merit increases.
(h) It is understood by the parties that clause 14.11 does not apply to scheduled work planning and review or performance appraisal meetings.
Longevity Increments 11.6.1 Each regular classified employee shall receive a two-range increase (5%) upon completion of five (5) years of satisfactory and continuous service. This increase will become effective at the beginning of the sixth year.
11.6.2 Each regular classified employee shall receive an additional two-range increase (5%) upon completion of ten (10) years of satisfactory and continuous service. This increase will become effective at the beginning of the eleventh year.
11.6.3 Each regular classified employee shall receive an additional two-range increase (5%) upon completion of fifteen (15) years of satisfactory and continuous service. This in-crease will become effective at the beginning of the sixteenth year.
Benefit Increases Benefit payments may be increased as provided in Section 2.1.3.
Career Development The City and the Union agree that employee career growth can be beneficial to both the City and the affected employee. As such, consistent with training needs identified by the City and the financial resources appropriated therefore by the City, the City shall provide educational and training opportunities for employee career growth. Each employee shall be responsible for utilizing those training and educational opportunities made available by the City or other institutions for the self- development effort needed to achieve personal career goals.
Incremental Progression Three (3) Year Trained Teacher - Professional Development
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 7.1.4 (f), a 3 year trained teacher may apply for progression by annual increments from Proficient 4 to 8 subject to the following conditions:
(i) completion of at least twelve (12) months service on Proficient 4;
(ii) participation in one hundred and fifty (150) hours of accredited professional development activities to be achieved at an annual average rate of not less than thirty (30) hours (five (5) days) and to be undertaken outside the hours engaged in teaching; and
(iii) provision of a statement outlining the knowledge and skills acquired through participation in professional development.
(b) Applications for progression identified in paragraph 7.1.6 (a) shall be made through the principal of the school and be subject to assessment and recommendation to the school authority by a panel consisting of:
(i) a representative of the school authority;
(ii) a representative of the teacher seeking progression;
(iii) a representative jointly agreed to.
(c) Applications for progression identified in paragraph 7.1.6 (a) shall include:
(i) certification of participation in accredited professional development activities by activity providers; and
(ii) a brief statement on a standard agreed, outlining the additional knowledge and skills acquired and their application in the teacher's work.
(d) No teacher shall be required to undergo classroom or other inspection for the purposes of certification.
(e) The review panel identified in paragraph 7.1.6 (b) shall make a recommendation to the employing authority as to whether in its opinion the teacher has satisfied the eligibility criteria in clause 7.1.6 (a).
(f) A teacher who is assessed by the review panel as having satisfied the requirements contained in clause 7.1.6 (a) shall be entitled to progress to the next incremental pay step (Proficient 4 to 8 as appropriate) effective from their date of application or on the completion of twelve (12) months' service on their current incremental step (whichever is the later).
Annual Increments
12.1 Employees will proceed to the maximum of their salary range by annual increments, after 12 months’ continuous service at each increment point, unless there is an adverse report on the Employee's performance or conduct which recommends the non-payment of an annual increment.
12.2 The following process will apply where a report on an Employee’s performance or conduct recommends the non-payment of an annual increment:
(a) The Employee will be shown the report prior to completing 12 months’ continuous service since their last incremental advance;
(b) The Employee will be provided with an opportunity to comment in writing;
(c) The Employee’s comments will be considered immediately by the Employer and a decision made as to whether to approve the payment of the increment or withhold payment for a specific period; and
(d) Where the increment is withheld, the Employer before the expiry of the specified period will complete a further report and the above provisions will apply.
12.3 The non-payment of an increment will not change the normal anniversary date of any further increment payments.
12.4 For the purposes of this clause "continuous service", except where an increment is payable according to age, will not include any period:
(a) exceeding 14 calendar days during which an Employee is absent on Leave Without Pay. In the case of leave without pay which exceeds 14 calendar days the entire period of such Leave Without Pay is excised in full;
(b) which exceeds six (6) months in one continuous period during which an Employee is absent on workers' compensation. Provided that only that portion of such continuous absence which exceeds six (6) months will not count as "continuous service"; and
(c) which exceeds three (3) months in one (1) continuous period during which an Employee is absent on Personal Leave without pay. Provided that only that portion of such continuous absence which exceeds three (3) months will not count as "continuous service".
Annual Work Plans and Budgets The Recipient shall furnish to the Association as soon as available, but in any case not later than September 1 of each year, the annual work plan and budget for the Project for each subsequent year of Project implementation, of such scope and detail as the Association shall have reasonably requested, except for the annual work plan and budget for the Project for the first year of Project implementation, which shall be furnished no later than one (1) month after the Effective Date.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT A. The Board of Education agrees to pay the actual tuition costs of courses taken by a teacher at accredited colleges or universities up to three courses per two (2) year fiscal periods from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008 and July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 respectively, except as follows:
1. No teacher may be reimbursed for courses taken during the first year of teaching in Vineland.
2. Teachers taking courses in the second and third years of employment in Vineland will not receive remuneration until tenure has been secured. The remuneration will then be retroactive and will be paid to the teacher in a lump sum within sixty (60) days after the teacher has secured tenure.
3. All courses must be pre-approved by the Superintendent or his designee subject to the following requirements:
(a) A teacher must provide official documentation that he/she has obtained a grade of B or better;
(b) Reimbursement shall be paid only for courses directly related to teacher’s teaching field which increase the teacher’s content knowledge and are related to the teacher’s current certification, as determined by the Superintendent or his/her designee in his/her sole discretion; no reimbursement shall be paid for courses leading to a post graduate or professional degree in a field other than education or teaching. Further, effective September 1, 2010, all newly hired teachers shall not be eligible for reimbursement until they are tenured, and they shall not be eligible for retroactive reimbursement upon gaining tenure for courses taken prior to being tenured.
(c) The maximum total payments to be made by the Board shall not exceed $130,000.00. Courses shall be applied for no earlier than the following dates: Summer Session - April 1 Fall/Winter Session - June 1 Spring Session - October 1 Courses must, as set forth hereinabove in this sub-article 18.A.3, be pre-approved by the Superintendent or his designee, prior to the teacher commencing the course(s); and
(d) Teacher taking courses shall sign a contract requiring them to reimburse the Board for all tuition paid for a course if the teacher shall voluntarily leave the employ of the Board within one (1) full school/academic year of completion of said course, except that reimbursement shall not be required when the teacher shall voluntarily leave the employ of the Board due to a significant, documented life change.
4. Tuition reimbursement costs shall be a sum not to exceed the actual cost of college credits charged in an accredited public State college/University of the State of New Jersey.
B. When the Superintendent initiates in-service training courses, workshops, conferences and programs designed to improve the quality of instruction, the cooperation of the Vineland Education Association will be solicited. Notwithstanding the above, the initiation of in-service training courses, workshops, conferences and programs shall be determined solely at the discretion of the Board.
C. One professional leave day may be granted to a teacher upon request, according to the following guidelines:
1. The professional day may be for attendance at a workshop, seminar or visit to another school for the expressed purpose of self professional improvement for the job.
2. The request shall arrive in the office of the Superintendent of Schools at least ten (10) working days prior to the date requested and shall be reviewed by the immediate supervisor prior to submission. The Board reserves the right to deny a professional leave day before or immediately following a holiday or on a day which by its nature suggests a hardship for providing a substitute.
3. No more than two teachers from any one elementary school or from any one department in the secondary schools may be granted a professional leave for a given day.
4. The teacher may be required to submit a report to the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, supervisor (s), principal and staff regarding the activity of the professional day.
5. Costs incurred by the teacher for the professional day authorized under this Section shall be the teacher’s responsibility.
6. A maximum of 90 professional leave days may be authorized for the school year which shall be apportioned as follows: elementary, 35; grades seven and eight, 20; and high school, 35.
D. If the Board initiates a teacher’s attendance at a professional workshop, seminar or visit, the expenses shall be the responsibility of the Board. Further, this day shall not be subtracted from the 90 professional leave days granted to teachers of the Association.
E. The Board agrees to pay the full cost of courses taken by secretaries related to skills and knowledge improvement when such courses are required and approved by the Board.
F. The Board and the Association agree that it is important to communicate when developing and implementing current and future learning technologies, including but not limited to distance and on-line learning.
Step Increases (a) The following is the method used to determine service credit, since the last date of hire, for purposes of positioning on the salary range:
i) all continuous service shall be retained and transferred with the employee if she/he changes her/his status from full-time to part- time and vice versa.
ii) a part-time employee who changes status to full-time will be given credit on the basis of fifteen hundred (1500) paid hours of part- time being equivalent to one (1) year of full-time service and vice versa.
iii) in addition, an employee who is so transferred will be given credit for paid hours accumulated since the date of last advancement.
(b) Annual increments for full-time employees shall be paid on their anniversary date.
(c) Annual increments for part-time employees shall be paid on the completion of each fifteen hundred (1500) hours worked.
Promotion Increases (a) Promotion salary increases shall be granted in an amount equal to 9.0% of the employee’s previous year’s base salary rate in recognition of promotion to one of the ranks described below:
(1). To Associate in , and Assistant University Librarian;
(2). To Associate Professor, Associate Scholar/Scientist/Engineer, and Associate University Librarian; and
