Common use of Class Size and Organization Clause in Contracts

Class Size and Organization. A. The class size for Child Development (regular PreK) with one (1) teacher and one (1) educational aide shall be 20 with no more than two (2) of those 20 who are on IEPs (excluding “speech-only” IEPs). For grades K-3, the class size shall be 25 including ESP. For grades 4-8, the class size shall be 28, including ESP. For grades 9-12, the class size shall be 30, including art and music (excluding choir, band, orchestra and similar activities). For grades 9-12 P.E., class size shall be 33. B. If the administration in a building cannot meet these limits in paragraph A above in one or more classrooms, the Principal, the UCC Chairperson, and the affected teacher have a responsibility to address class size limits at the school level. If, after a good faith effort, they are unable to do so, the Principal and UCC Chapter Chairperson shall submit in writing the evidence of the problem-solving efforts to the appropriate Academic Superintendent who will attempt to solve the problem. If a teacher is assigned students beyond the applicable limit, one or more of the following options will be utilized: 1. Reassignment of students or teachers; 2. Add an additional classroom teacher; 3. Assign an educational aide; 4. In self-contained classrooms, pay the affected teacher $5.00 per student per day for each student above the limit in grades PreK-8 (the appropriate Academic Superintendent must preapprove a self-contained classroom in grades 6-8). Compensation for each marking period of the school year shall be based upon student enrollment (as evidenced by progress reports or grade scan reports) on the last Friday of each marking period, with said compensation retroactive to the beginning of the marking period. When an overage exists, including the problem- solving process time period, the teacher shall receive overage compensation. All such compensation shall be paid by following the completion of the school year, but no later than July 15 of each year; 5. In departmentalized classrooms, pay the affected teacher $1.00 per student per instructional period per day for each student above the limit. Compensation for each marking period of the school year shall be based upon student enrollment (as evidenced by progress reports or grade scan reports) the last Friday of each marking period, with said compensation retroactive to the beginning of the marking period. When an overage exists, including the problem-solving process time period, the teacher shall receive overage compensation. All such compensation shall be paid by separate check following the completion of the school year, but no later than July 15 of each year. C. All disputes regarding oversized class compensation (both regular and special education classes for all levels) for the previous school year shall be arbitrated as an expedited class action on or about August 1 of each year. D. The District shall maintain teacher-pupil ratios as mandated by the State Department of Education. E. The Principal of each school shall, when organization takes place, hold at least one faculty meeting to explain the faculty staffing procedure, including pupil-teacher ratio and class size. F. The Principal and the UCC shall meet prior to, and during, each semester to establish equitable class sizes (including health classes in secondary schools), based upon staff availability in the school. Teacher assignments, including subjects or grades assigned to teach, non-teaching duties, unassigned duties and room assignments, are to be part of the discussion in the establishment of the master schedule of the school. Teachers shall have the responsibility of reporting any inequities in class size or teacher assignments to the UCC, which will attempt to resolve them within the building, per paragraph B, above. If it cannot be resolved within the building, the UCC may pursue the problem through the grievance procedure. G. Where possible, in elementary and PreK-8 buildings, split-grade elementary classes shall be eliminated. If a teacher has a split-grade class, priority shall be given to assigning that teacher a single-grade class the following year. Initial emphasis should be placed on eliminating all split-grade primary classes. Split classes shall not be given to teachers who are in their first 180 working days of teaching unless the school’s organizational structure is based on multi-grade/age grouping. H. Where possible, split assignments for Encore teachers between two (2) or more buildings shall be eliminated. I. The District will not assign a licensed/certificated teacher to a class or assignment for which they are not licensed/certificated to teach, except in situations in which the teacher is seeking licensure in that area and accepts the assignment. If the teacher seeking licensure in the additional area accepts the assignment, that teacher will assume all responsibilities for the assignment, including the evaluation process. J. Elementary science teachers may spend a majority of their classroom instruction time in teaching science by the voluntary trading of classes which will be organized by written mutual agreement between the Principal and the UCC. K. All subjects taken by PreK-8 students shall count for promotion. L. Team Leaders, Special Education Liaison, ESP Liaison, Subject Area Specialists. When Team Leaders, Special Education Liaison, ESP Liaison, Subject Area Specialists are in place, the following procedures will be followed. Each grade, or cluster of grades (e.g., Grade 3 and 4 teachers combine to form one (1) team) with at least three (3) homeroom teachers within a PreK-8 building shall have the equivalent of a Grade-Level Chair or Core Team Leader, hereafter called Team Leaders. In addition, all PreK-8 buildings will have four Subject Area Specialists (language arts, math, science and social studies), one Special Education Liaison and one ESP Liaison for all ESP teachers. No additional released periods will be provided for these positions. There will be one (1) Department Head for all ESP teachers, hereafter called ESP Liaison, in PreK-8 schools. In all PreK-8 schools, Subject Area Specialists, one (1) Special Education Liaison and one ESP Liaison will be selected every two (2) years by a process established by written mutual agreement between the UCC and Principal. The selection process for these positions will commence no later than May 1 and be concluded no later than May 15. For all positions made vacant by transfer, promotion, retirement, etc., the position will be posted for one (1) week, and all members eligible to apply shall submit their letter of interest to the Chapter Chairperson and Principal. These positions may also be considered for inclusion in the Differentiated Compensation System. M. Subject Area Specialists, Special Education Liaisons, and ESP Liaisons are to report to their schools all day for the two (2) work days preceding the opening of school and will be paid on a prorated basis according to their ensuing year’s annual contract salary. These positions may also be considered for inclusion in the Differentiated Compensation System.

Class Size and Organization. A. The Effective with the 2016-2017 school year, the class size for Child Development (regular PreK) with one (1) teacher and one (1) educational aide shall be 20 with no more than two (2) of those 20 who are on IEPs (excluding “speech-only” IEPs). For grades K-3, the class size shall be 25 including ESP. For grades 4-8, the class size shall be 28, including ESP. For grades 9-12, the class size shall be 30, including art and music (excluding choir, band, orchestra and similar activities). For grades 9-12 P.E., class size shall be 33. B. If the administration in a building cannot meet these limits in paragraph A above in one or more classrooms, the Principal, the UCC Chairperson, and the affected teacher have a responsibility to address class size limits at the school level. If, after a good faith effort, they are unable to do so, the Principal and UCC Chapter Chairperson shall submit in writing the evidence of the problem-solving efforts to the appropriate Academic Superintendent who will attempt to solve the problem. If a teacher is assigned students beyond the applicable limit, one or more of the following options will be utilized: 1. Reassignment of students or teachers; 2. Add an additional classroom teacher; 3. Assign an educational aide; 4. In self-contained classrooms, pay the affected teacher $5.00 per student per day for each student above the limit in grades PreK-8 (the appropriate Academic Superintendent must preapprove a self-contained classroom in grades 6-8). Compensation for each marking period of the school year shall be based upon student enrollment (as evidenced by progress reports or grade scan reports) on the last Friday of each marking period, with said compensation retroactive to the beginning of the marking period. When an overage exists, including the problem- solving process time period, the teacher shall receive overage compensation. All such compensation shall be paid by separate check following the completion of the school year, but no later than July 15 of each year; 5. In departmentalized classrooms, pay the affected teacher $1.00 per student per instructional period per day for each student above the limit. Compensation for each marking period of the school year shall be based upon student enrollment (as evidenced by progress reports or grade scan reports) the last Friday of each marking period, with said compensation retroactive to the beginning of the marking period. When an overage exists, including the problem-solving process time period, the teacher shall receive overage compensation. All such compensation shall be paid by separate check following the completion of the school year, but no later than July 15 of each year. C. All disputes regarding oversized class compensation (both regular and special education classes for all levels) for the previous school year shall be arbitrated as an expedited class action on or about August 1 of each year. D. The District shall maintain teacher-pupil ratios as mandated by the State Department of Education. E. The Principal of each school shall, when organization takes place, hold at least one faculty meeting to explain the faculty staffing procedure, including pupil-teacher ratio and class size. F. The Principal and the UCC shall meet prior to, and during, each semester to establish equitable class sizes (including health classes in secondary schools), based upon staff availability in the school. Teacher assignments, including subjects or grades assigned to teach, non-teaching duties, unassigned duties and room assignments, are to be part of the discussion in the establishment of the master schedule of the school. Teachers shall have the responsibility of reporting any inequities in class size or teacher assignments to the UCC, which will attempt to resolve them within the building, per paragraph B, above. If it cannot be resolved within the building, the UCC may pursue the problem through the grievance procedure. G. Where possible, in elementary and PreK-8 buildings, split-grade elementary classes shall be eliminated. If a teacher has a split-grade class, priority shall be given to assigning that teacher a single-grade class the following year. Initial emphasis should be placed on eliminating all split-grade primary classes. Split classes shall not be given to teachers who are in their first 180 working days of teaching unless the school’s organizational structure is based on multi-grade/age grouping. H. Where possible, split assignments for Encore teachers between two (2) or more buildings shall be eliminated. I. The District will not assign a licensed/certificated teacher to a class or assignment for which they are not licensed/certificated to teach, except in situations in which the teacher is seeking licensure in that area area, and accepts the assignment. If the teacher seeking licensure in the additional area accepts the assignment, that teacher will assume all responsibilities for the assignment, including the evaluation process. J. Elementary science teachers may spend a majority of their classroom instruction time in teaching science by the voluntary trading of classes which will be organized by written mutual agreement between the Principal and the UCC. K. All subjects taken by PreK-8 students shall count for promotion. L. Team Leaders, Special Education special education Liaison, ESP Liaison, Subject Area Specialists. When Team Leaders, Special Education special education Liaison, ESP Liaison, Subject Area Specialists are in place, the following procedures will be followed. Each grade, or cluster of grades (e.g., Grade 3 and 4 teachers combine to form one (1) team) with at least three (3) homeroom teachers within a PreK-8 building shall have the equivalent of a Grade-Level Chair or Core Team Leader, hereafter called Team Leaders. In addition, all PreK-8 buildings will have four Subject Area Specialists (language arts, math, science and social studies), one Special Education special education Liaison and one ESP Liaison for all ESP teachers. No additional released periods will be provided for these positions. There will be one (1) Department Head for all ESP teachers, hereafter called ESP Liaison, in PreK-8 schools. In all PreK-8 schools, Subject Area Specialists, one (1) Special Education special education Liaison and one ESP Liaison will be selected every two (2) years by a process established by written mutual agreement between the UCC and Principal. The selection process for these positions will commence no later than May 1 and be concluded no later than May 15. For all positions made vacant by transfer, promotion, retirement, etc., the position will be posted for one (1) week, and all members eligible to apply shall submit their letter of interest to the Chapter Chairperson and Principal. These positions may also be considered for inclusion in the Differentiated Compensation System. M. Subject Area Specialists, Special Education Liaisonsspecial education Liaison, and ESP Liaisons Liaison are to report to their schools all day for the two (2) work days preceding the opening of school and will be paid on a prorated basis according to their ensuing year’s annual contract salary. These positions may also be considered for inclusion in the Differentiated Compensation System.