In Other Schools. School aides may apply for positions as school aides in schools in the district, or in the case of high schools and District 75 schools in the borough, other than the one in which they are serving. A school aide with more than the equivalent of one school term of continuous service who applies in writing for an opening will be interviewed and, if deemed qualified, will be given preference over applicants outside the school system or employees on layoff for employment in another school. For the purposes of this Section, “continuous service” is defined as uninterrupted service except that breaks in service caused by layoff, not to exceed four years, or other approved leave with or without pay, as provided in Article XIII, shall not be deemed an interruption of service, but such limited period shall not be counted on the determination of length of continuous service. An “opening” is a vacancy created by the termination or transfer of a regularly employed employee or a new position to the work location or a position in a newly constructed work location, except that openings created by a transfer shall not be subject to the posting requirements of Article XXIX of this Agreement and shall be available only to those employees who have an existing application for transfer to the school in question on file with the district office, or for High Schools with the Office of Personnel, and for Special Education with District 75. Exception to this Article, based on qualifications must have the prior approval of the Community Superintendent or for high schools of appropriate Assistant Superintendent. Grievances arising out of such exception shall be appealable directly to Step 3 of the expedited grievance procedure. If a grievance arising from such exception is appealed to the Grievance Panel, such appeal shall take precedence over all other scheduled appeals. In the event two or more employees are eligible for an opening, the employee with the earliest date of application will be given preference.
