Common use of LearningImprovement Fund- Support Staff Clause in Contracts

LearningImprovement Fund- Support Staff. The funds stipulated in Item 1of the LOA --Learning Improvement Fund: Support Staff Priorities (Appendix D) are the greater of $10 million or 20% of the LIF commencing on July 1, 2015. These funds will be allocated to School Districts in accordance with the following principles as per established SSEAC procedures: Additional hours will be allocated to EA positions of more than 10 and less than 35 hours where required to provide support for the learning needs of students in alignment with district objectives and the learning Improvement Fund Statute and Regulation. This does not preclude the creation of new full time or part time EA positions. Inorder to facilitate the creation of full time jobs, the Parties encourage the bundling of duties. In order to promote continuity of student coverage consideration will be given to creating positions of equivalent length. For clarity, shifts scheduled for a duration not ending in a whole hour or half hour, will be increased to the next half hour. Consideration may begiven to the establishment of itinerant positions to enhance services to students with special needs and provide for the opportunity to effectively deploy EA's in circumstances of changing enrollment throughout the school year. Support staff local unions and Boards of Education will formulate a plan for the above funds. Plans for full time jobs for EA's are to be accompanied by job descriptions as per existing SSEAC procedures in accordance with the Collective Agreements. SSEAC will receive the jointly agreed plans from school districts and locals. If disputes arise regarding the implementation of this agreement the matter will be referred to the SSEAC. Should SSEAC fail to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the referring parties the matter may be sent by either party to mediation using a mutually agreed upon mediator. If permitted by legislation and regulation, a one-time allocation of $2.5 million from these funds, on or after July 1, 2015, will be provided to the SSEAC Skills Enhancement Fund to be distributed to school districts for job related EA training according to established procedures. The Parties agree to write a joint letter to the Ministry requesting that any enabling changes to legislation and regulation be made to allow this to occur. ..,