Common use of JOINT COUNCILS/COMMITTEES Clause in Contracts

JOINT COUNCILS/COMMITTEES. A. INSTRUCTIONAL COUNCILS 1. The Board and the Association hereby create a council known as the Instructional Council whose responsibility shall be to initiate policy changes that affect and determine the instructional program(s). The members of the Council shall establish processes for resolving issues that impact student achievement. 2. The Council shall be composed of seven (7) qualified employees to work with seven qualified administrators. The seven (7) employee members shall be appointed by the Association, and the administrators shall be appointed by the Superintendent. It is encouraged that Instructional Council members serve a minimum of two years. The Superintendent and GREA staff member shall be ex- officio members of the Instructional Council. The Instructional Council chairperson shall alternate yearly between the Association and the District, with the District chairing on odd-numbered school years (e.g., 2016-2017) and the Association chairing on even-numbered school years (e.g., 2015-2016). 3. The Board and administrative staff will consistently seek the Instructional Council’s input before implementing policies that affect student achievement. 4. The Council shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Council. Classroom substitutes for employees, where needed, will be provided by the Board. 5. The Council may consult with employees, students, and members of the community and the Council shall be empowered to appoint subcommittees that will lead to improvement of instruction. 6. The subcommittees shall meet as directed by the Council and shall make regular reports of their findings to the Council. 7. The Instructional Council shall annually consider appointing a committee to review the testing program, curriculum, and new courses, and to make recommendations to the Instructional Council. 8. All necessary expenses for staff and clerical assistance as determined by the Council to carry out its responsibilities shall be provided by the Board. B. JOINT WORKLOAD REVIEW COMMITTEE 1. The Committee shall be composed of the Superintendent or designee, the Association President, the Association UniServ Directors, three persons appointed by the Association, and three to five administrators named by the Superintendent. 2. The purpose of the Committee shall be to review and discuss exact class size and overload hour data and to mutually seek resolution of problems associated with class size and overload assignment. 3. Within ten (10) working days following the first count day of the school year and not later than fifteen (15) working days following the start of the second semester, the Superintendent or designee shall forward to the Association President exact and specific class size and overload hour data. This data shall reflect the class size in each elementary classroom and the hour-by-hour class size for each secondary teacher. Further, the number and subject for each overload hour shall be shown by building. 4. Not later than ten (10) working days following receipt of the above data, the committee shall meet to review, examine, and discuss the same consistent with its purpose as set forth in Subsection B.2, above. C. BOARD-ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS There will be meetings between the Superintendent of Schools and the Association administration upon the request of either party, and scheduled by mutual agreement.

JOINT COUNCILS/COMMITTEES. A. INSTRUCTIONAL COUNCILS 1. The Board and the Association hereby create a council known as the Instructional Council whose responsibility shall be to initiate policy changes that which affect and determine the instructional program(s). The members of the Council shall establish processes for resolving issues that which impact student achievement. 2. The Council shall be composed of seven (7) qualified employees to work with seven (7) qualified administrators. The seven (7) employee members shall be appointed by the Association, and the administrators shall be appointed by the Superintendent. It is encouraged that Instructional Council members serve a minimum of two (2) years. The Superintendent and GREA staff member shall be ex- ex-officio members of the Instructional Council. The Instructional Council chairperson shall alternate yearly between also be an ex-officio member of the Association and the District, with the District chairing on odd-numbered school years (e.g., 2016-2017) and the Association chairing on even-numbered school years (e.g., 2015-2016)Staff Development Council. 3. The Board and administrative staff will consistently seek the Instructional Council’s input before implementing policies that which affect student achievement. 4. The Council shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Council. Classroom substitutes for employees, employees where needed, needed will be provided by the Board. 5. The Council may consult with employees, students, students and members of the community and the Council shall be empowered to appoint subcommittees that which will lead to improvement of instruction. 6. The subcommittees shall meet as directed by the Council and shall make regular reports of their findings to the Council. 7. The Council shall be the only agency to speak on behalf of the total teaching staff of the school system on instructional matters. 8. The Instructional Council shall annually consider appointing a committee to review the testing program, curriculum, and new courses, program and to make recommendations to the Instructional Council. The recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, the adequacy and appropriateness of tests given. 89. All necessary expenses for staff and clerical assistance as determined by the Council to carry out its responsibilities shall be provided by the Board. B. JOINT WORKLOAD REVIEW COMMITTEE STAFF DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 1. The Committee A Staff Development Council shall be composed of the Superintendent or designee, the Association President, the Association UniServ Directors, three persons appointed by the Association, and three to five administrators named by the Superintendentcontinued. 2. The purpose of the Committee shall be to review and discuss exact class size and overload hour data and to mutually seek resolution of problems associated with class size and overload assignment. 3. Within ten (10) working days following the first count day of the school year and not later than fifteen (15) working days following the start of the second semester, the Superintendent or designee shall forward to the Association President exact and specific class size and overload hour data. This data shall reflect the class size in each elementary classroom and the hour-by-hour class size for each secondary teacher. Further, the number and subject for each overload hour shall be shown by building. 4. Not later than ten (10) working days following receipt of the above data, the committee shall meet to review, examine, and discuss the same consistent with its purpose as set forth in Subsection B.2, above. C. BOARD-ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS There will be meetings between the Superintendent of Schools and the Association administration upon the request of either party, and scheduled by mutual agreement.

JOINT COUNCILS/COMMITTEES. A. INSTRUCTIONAL COUNCILS 1. The Board and the Association hereby create a council known as the Instructional Council whose responsibility shall be to initiate policy changes that which affect and determine the instructional program(s). The members of the Council shall establish processes for resolving issues that which impact student achievement. 2. The Council shall be composed of seven (7) qualified employees to work with seven (7) qualified administrators. The seven (7) employee members shall be appointed by the Association, and the administrators shall be appointed by the Superintendent. It is encouraged that Instructional Council members serve a minimum of two (2) years. The Superintendent and GREA staff member shall be ex- ex-officio members of the Instructional Council. The Instructional Council chairperson shall alternate yearly between the Association and the District, with the District chairing on odd-numbered school years (e.g., 2016e.g. 2012-20172013) and the Association chairing on even-numbered school years (e.g., 2015e.g. 2013-20162014). 3. The Board and administrative staff will consistently seek the Instructional Council’s input before implementing policies that which affect student achievement. 4. The Council shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Council. Classroom substitutes for employees, employees where needed, needed will be provided by the Board. 5. The Council may consult with employees, students, students and members of the community and the Council shall be empowered to appoint subcommittees that which will lead to improvement of instruction. 6. The subcommittees shall meet as directed by the Council and shall make regular reports of their findings to the Council. 7. The Instructional Council shall annually consider appointing a committee to review the testing program, curriculum, and new courses, program and to make recommendations to the Instructional Council. The recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, the adequacy and appropriateness of tests given. 8. All necessary expenses for staff and clerical assistance as determined by the Council to carry out its responsibilities shall be provided by the Board. B. JOINT WORKLOAD REVIEW COMMITTEEPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DESIGN TEAM 1. The Committee professional development design team shall be composed responsible for 36 professional development hours that each GREA member completes each year, except that a member may elect to independently determine the last 6 hours which shall be completed between July 1 and the Friday before spring break of each year. The member is allowed to select professional development from any of the Superintendent following approved vendors: GRPS, GREA/MEA/NEA, any county ISD, college, or designeeuniversity. The professional development must be scheduled outside the regular work day, and proof of completion must be submitted to the Office of Organizational Learning by the Friday before Spring Break. If completion has not taken place by the Friday before Spring Break, the Association President, member is expected to attend the Association UniServ Directors, three persons appointed last scheduled pd day offered by the Association, and three to five administrators named by the SuperintendentDistrict. 2. The purpose of the Committee professional development design team shall be to review and discuss exact class size and overload hour data and to mutually seek resolution comprised of problems associated with class size and overload assignment. 3. Within ten six (106) working days following persons from the first count day of the school year and not later than fifteen (15) working days following the start of the second semester, the Superintendent or designee shall forward to the Association President exact and specific class size and overload hour data. This data shall reflect the class size in each elementary classroom and the hour-by-hour class size for each secondary teacher. Further, the number and subject for each overload hour shall be shown by building. 4. Not later than ten (10) working days following receipt of the above data, the committee shall meet to review, examineAssociation, and discuss the same consistent with its purpose as set forth in Subsection B.2, above. C. BOARD-ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS There will be meetings between the Superintendent of Schools and the Association administration upon the request of either party, and scheduled by mutual agreement.six

JOINT COUNCILS/COMMITTEES. ‌ A. INSTRUCTIONAL COUNCILSCOUNCILS‌ 1. The Board and the Association hereby create a council known as the Instructional Council whose responsibility shall be to initiate policy changes that affect and determine the instructional program(s). The members of the Council shall establish processes for resolving issues that impact student achievement. 2. The Council shall be composed of seven (7) qualified employees to work with seven qualified administrators. The seven (7) employee members shall be appointed by the Association, and the administrators shall be appointed by the Superintendent. It is encouraged that Instructional Council members serve a minimum of two years. The Superintendent and GREA staff member shall be ex- officio members of the Instructional Council. The Instructional Council chairperson shall alternate yearly between the Association and the District, with the District chairing on odd-numbered school years (e.g., 2016-2017) and the Association chairing on even-numbered school years (e.g., 2015-2016). 3. The Board and administrative staff will consistently seek the Instructional Council’s input before implementing policies that affect student achievement. 4. The Council shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Council. Classroom substitutes for employees, where needed, will be provided by the Board. 5. The Council may consult with employees, students, and members of the community and the Council shall be empowered to appoint subcommittees that will lead to improvement of instruction. 6. The subcommittees shall meet as directed by the Council and shall make regular reports of their findings to the Council. 7. The Instructional Council shall annually consider appointing a committee to review the testing program, curriculum, and new courses, and to make recommendations to the Instructional Council. 8. All necessary expenses for staff and clerical assistance as determined by the Council to carry out its responsibilities shall be provided by the Board. B. JOINT WORKLOAD REVIEW COMMITTEECOMMITTEE‌ 1. The Committee shall be composed of the Superintendent or designee, the Association President, the Association UniServ Directors, three persons appointed by the Association, and three to five administrators named by the Superintendent. 2. The purpose of the Committee shall be to review and discuss exact class size and overload hour data and to mutually seek resolution of problems associated with class size and overload assignment. 3. Within ten (10) working days following the first count day of the school year and not later than fifteen (15) working days following the start of the second semester, the Superintendent or designee shall forward to the Association President exact and specific class size and overload hour data. This data shall reflect the class size in each elementary classroom and the hour-by-hour class size for each secondary teacher. Further, the number and subject for each overload hour shall be shown by building. 4. Not later than ten (10) working days following receipt of the above data, the committee shall meet to review, examine, and discuss the same consistent with its purpose as set forth in Subsection B.2, above. C. BOARD-ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS MEETINGS‌ There will be meetings between the Superintendent of Schools and the Association administration upon the request of either party, and scheduled by mutual agreement. D. SCHOOL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WORKGROUP‌ There will be a joint School Safety Improvement Workgroup comprised of ten (10) members selected by the District (which shall include representatives from non-MEA represented groups or units) and ten (10) representatives from GREA and other MEA- represented groups. The workgroup will meet at least twice per year. Quarterly recommendations with budget implications should be made to the Superintendent by March 31 of each year. The workgroup’s charge is to: 1. Make recommendations to the Superintendent regarding school safety and student discipline issues; 2. Make recommendations for modifications to the school crisis management and emergency procedures manual; 3. Make recommendations to enhance the District’s crisis response and prevention plan; 4. Make recommendations concerning an effective District-wide communication plan; 5. Review and make recommendations on specific safety-related procedures such as identification badges, MIOSHA Safety Data Sheets, etc.; 6. Investigate alternative funding sources for safety and student discipline issues, such as grants; and 7. Plan and provide for training within existing budget constraints on all of the above. 8. The Superintendent shall allocate $10,000 to the School Safety Improvement Workgroup to be used exclusively for the purchase of safety-related equipment, safety-plan documents, or safety training for buildings or programs, provided there is no ongoing budget obligation imposed on such building or program. The Workgroup shall allocate the funds based on need and cost-effectiveness, and it shall develop or require reasonable guidelines for safeguarding such materials. E. BUILDING COUNCIL‌ 1. There may be in every building an organization of the building staff known as the building council. 2. The primary function of the building council shall be an effort by the total staff to promote an efficient, orderly, harmonious building. The building council shall be the communication vehicle between the staff and the building administrator on non- contractual issues. This council shall consider matters of concern within the building and make appropriate recommendations to the building administrative staff. To effectuate this goal, the building council chairperson shall have the opportunity, on a regularly scheduled basis, to confer with the building administrator. 3. Employees assigned to work in the building are eligible for membership. 4. The chairperson of the building council is to be elected from employees of that building. 5. The building council may conduct activities and be responsible for functions under the following guidelines: a. In the event that an individual or group has a concern not covered by this Agreement, an attempt must first be made at resolution with the building council chairperson and/or the building administrator. The Association representative and/or Board representative may be requested by either party to be in attendance at such meetings. b. The building administrator must be apprised of all items to be discussed at any building council meeting. An opportunity to resolve all items to mutual satisfaction prior to the building council meeting must also be provided the building administrator. c. If the concern has progressed through the aforementioned guidelines without satisfactory resolution, the building council chairperson may request a total building council meeting and the building administrator shall effectuate the building council meeting to be chaired by the building council chairperson. Decisions regarding the selection of a final recommendation from amongst possible solutions may be resolved through secret ballot process using the plurality voting system. d. The building council shall also serve as the communication vehicle to the Instructional Council or to any administrator, provided the possible resolution of the concern is under the authority of such administrator. The building administrator shall be informed prior to any such action. F. SHARED DECISION-MAKING‌ 1. Shared Decision Making (SDM) is a process for improving student learning through the involvement of all appropriate employees in the decision-making process. It is a process through which those individuals responsible for the implementation of a decision at the building/program level are actively and legitimately involved in making decisions. Both the administrator and staff must agree to participate in this process. 2. These conditions govern the SDM process: a. Modifications of this Agreement require the written agreement of the District and the Association as described in Article 6.E (Mutual Consent). Contract Waiver forms are available from the Association and from the District through Human Resources). b. All contract waivers will include a specific start and end date. c. Participation in the SDM process is voluntary. No employee will be disciplined or suffer adverse evaluation for electing not to participate in the SDM process. d. The administrator and staff at each building will jointly determine the SDM process(es) they will use. e. SDM will occur within the confines of the contract day, if possible. 3. Disputes in individual programs or buildings regarding the SDM process will be addressed by an Association/GRPS team composed of equal numbers of representatives appointed by the District and the Association. 4. A District Advisory Committee for SDM may be created to provide advice, facilitate training, and recommend strategies to support the SDM process. The composition of this committee will be of equal representation from the District and MEA employee groups.

JOINT COUNCILS/COMMITTEES. A. INSTRUCTIONAL COUNCILS 1. The Board and the Association hereby create a council known as the Instructional Council whose responsibility shall be to initiate policy changes that affect and determine the instructional program(s). The members of the Council shall establish processes for resolving issues that impact student achievement. 2. The Council shall be composed of seven (7) qualified employees to work with seven qualified administrators. The seven (7) employee members shall be appointed by the Association, and the administrators shall be appointed by the Superintendent. It is encouraged that Instructional Council members serve a minimum of two years. The Superintendent and GREA staff member shall be ex- officio members of the Instructional Council. The Instructional Council chairperson shall alternate yearly between the Association and the District, with the District chairing on odd-numbered school years (e.g., 2016-2017) and the Association chairing on even-numbered school years (e.g., 2015-2016). 3. The Board and administrative staff will consistently seek the Instructional Council’s input before implementing policies that affect student achievement. 4. The Council shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Council. Classroom substitutes for employees, where needed, will be provided by the Board. 5. The Council may consult with employees, students, and members of the community community, and the Council shall be empowered to appoint subcommittees that will lead to improvement of instruction. 6. The subcommittees shall meet as directed by the Council and shall make regular reports of their findings to the Council. 7. The Instructional Council shall annually consider appointing a committee to review the testing program, curriculum, and new courses, program and to make recommendations to the Instructional Council. The recommendations shall include but not be limited to the adequacy and appropriateness of tests given. 8. All necessary expenses for staff and clerical assistance as determined by the Council to carry out its responsibilities shall be provided by the Board. B. JOINT WORKLOAD REVIEW COMMITTEE 1. The Committee shall be composed of the Superintendent or designee, the Association President, the Association UniServ Directors, three persons appointed by the Association, and three to five administrators named by the Superintendent. 2. The purpose of the Committee shall be to review and discuss exact class size and overload hour data and to mutually seek resolution of problems associated with class size and overload assignment. 3. Within ten (10) working days following the first count day of the school year and not later than fifteen (15) working days following the start of the second semester, the Superintendent or designee shall forward to the Association President exact and specific class size and overload hour data. This data shall reflect the class size in each elementary classroom and the hour-by-hour class size for each secondary teacher. Further, the number and subject for each overload hour shall be shown by building. 4. Not later than ten (10) working days following receipt of the above data, the committee shall meet to review, examine, and discuss the same consistent with its purpose as set forth in Subsection B.2, above. C. BOARD-ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS There will be meetings between the Superintendent of Schools and the Association administration upon the request of either party, party and scheduled by mutual agreement.