Common use of PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT Clause in Contracts

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The Board will reserve an amount not less than $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvement. The Board will pay, in advance, the full tuition costs and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 per teacher per year for courses, workshops, or seminars approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee. 4.3.2 All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit for any course, which has not been approved. 4.3.3 Approvable courses shall be graduate-level courses and shall be either subject matter or professional education courses that relate to the teacher’s assignment. Courses 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last check. The teacher will also give written authorization to the district to deduct the amount that was paid in advance. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during the summer will not be prepaid. Reimbursement will be made to the teacher only if the teacher returns to the Xxxxx school system in the fall. 4.3.6 As of 31 May of the contract year, professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply for funds up to a total cost of $1,500 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request for funds shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval in advance. The administration will review these requests and allocate remaining funds equitably to all who apply. 4.3.7 The Superintendent or his/her designee shall, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section and said judgment shall be subject to direct appeal to the Board. The Board's judgment shall be final and not subject to the grievance procedure of this agreement. 4.3.8 Teachers may use professional development monies to pay for New Hampshire re- certification costs.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The Board will reserve an amount not less than $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvement. The Board will pay, in advance, the full tuition costs and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 per teacher per year for courses, workshops, or seminars seminars, professional organization fees/dues, travel, and professional subscriptions, approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee. 4.3.2 All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit for any course, which has not been approved. 4.3.3 Approvable courses shall be graduate-level courses and shall be either subject matter or professional education courses that relate to the teacher’s assignment. CoursesCourses presented for approval should have a specific description. Completed courses presented for salary incrementation must be accompanied by official transcripts or credentials from the institution at which they were taken indicating successful completion. For those applying for the Master’s Degree Schedule, it will be necessary only to submit to the Superintendent certification from an approved institute to the awarding of the degree. An approved institution shall mean one that is approved by the Regional Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and/or by the State Board of Higher Education. 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last check. The teacher will also give written authorization to the district to deduct the amount that was paid in advance. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during the summer will not be prepaid. Reimbursement will be made to the teacher only if the teacher returns to the Xxxxx school system in the fall. 4.3.6 As of 31 May of the contract year, professional Professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply for funds up to a total cost of $1,500 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request for funds shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval in advanceno later than May 31 of the contract year. The administration Requests will review these requests and allocate remaining funds be awarded equitably to all who applyapply based on the remaining unencumbered professional development funds available in the general budget on June 30 of the contract year. 4.3.7 The Superintendent or his/her designee shall, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section and said judgment shall be subject to direct appeal to the Board. The Board's judgment shall be final and not subject to the grievance procedure of this agreement. 4.3.8 Teachers may use professional development monies to pay for New Hampshire re- certification costs.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The A. In-service programs shall be planned cooperatively by representatives of the Professional Development Committee to meet at a minimum the requirements of the Revised School Code. 1. One (1) elementary and one (1) secondary principal and two (2) other administrators shall be the representatives of the Board will reserve an amount not less than $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvementat planning meetings. 2. The Board will payFour (4) teachers (one from Xxxxxx, in advanceMaplewood, the full tuition costs Jr. High, and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 per teacher per year for courses, workshops, or seminars approved in advance High School) shall be selected by the Superintendent or his/her designeeAssociation to represent the teaching staff. If required by law, a fifth teacher shall be appointed by the Association. 4.3.2 3. All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, teachers shall be submitted expected to the Superintendent for approval. attend scheduled in-service programs unless excused due to illness or some other unavoidable cause. B. Professional improvement shall be defined as professional improvement or subject matter improvement and shall not be considered as taking a specific course or number of courses. C. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit reimburse the staff for any course, which has not been approvedexpenses incurred as approved by the Professional Development Committee. 4.3.3 Approvable courses D. The Board shall, at the beginning of each school year of this contract, establish a Professional Development Fund of $30,000.00. This fund shall not accumulate and is to be used by the teaching staff of the District. 1. Guidelines for the use of the Professional Development Fund: a. The money is to be used only for professional development of the teaching staff. Professional development may include but not be limited to conferences, visitations, in-service training, etc. b. The money from this fund will be divided as follows: 70% for conferences, visitations, etc.; and 30% for in-service training. Adjustments to these percentages may be made by mutual consent of both parties. c. Approval of any request from this fund shall be graduate-level courses determined by the Professional Development Committee. This Committee shall also provide the Association and the Board with a quarterly financial report. d. Criteria for acceptance or denial of all requests shall be either subject matter established by the Professional Development Committee. e. There shall be a limit on the number of people participating in conferences or professional visitations per day - three (3) from the elementary level and three (3) from the secondary level. Additional people may be allowed to attend at the discretion of the building administrator. E. The Board shall reimburse any teacher successfully completing any course directly related to education courses that relate at an NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) accredited college or university with the following limitations: 1. Said course must have approval by the School administration prior to completion of the course. 2. Any reimbursement requests for credits earned must be filed not later than thirty (30) days after completion of the course. 3. A maximum of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per year at the end of each of the first five (5) years of teaching in the Maple Valley School District (September 1 through August 31), thereafter one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the remainder of the teacher’s assignment. Courses 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete employment with the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last check. The teacher will also give written authorization to the district to deduct the amount that was paid in advance. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during the summer will not be prepaid. Reimbursement will be made to the teacher only if the teacher returns to the Xxxxx school system in the fall. 4.3.6 As of 31 May of the contract year, professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply for funds up to a total cost of $1,500 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request for funds District shall be submitted to the Superintendent paid for approval in advance. The administration will review these requests and allocate remaining funds equitably to all who apply. 4.3.7 The Superintendent or his/her designee shall, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section and said judgment shall be subject to direct appeal to the Board. The Board's judgment shall be final and not advanced credits earned subject to the grievance procedure requirements herein. 4. Only credits earned after the approval of this agreementcontract shall be considered for reimbursement under these terms. 4.3.8 5. Any teacher receiving reimbursement payment under this provision shall stay with the District for at least one (1) full school year after receiving any payment. Any reimbursement payment received after the start of a school year shall require the teacher stay through the following school year. Teachers leaving the District before fulfilling this one (1) full school year requirement shall reimburse all tuition monies paid to them by the District in the prior twelve (12) months. 6. Any required reimbursement may use be deducted from the teacher’s remaining paychecks. F. New professional development monies employees being offered a contract will agree to give two (2) days without pay before school begins for New Hampshire re- certification costsinservice training.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The Board will reserve an amount not less than $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvement. The Board will pay, in advance, the full tuition costs and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 per teacher per year for courses, workshops, or seminars approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee. 4.3.2 All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval. A. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit reimburse teachers in the employment of the Xxxxxxxx Lake Schools for any course, which has not been approved.tuition costs as follows: 4.3.3 Approvable courses shall be graduate-1. The college or university level courses must be taken either as part of a program for which an advanced degree is sought or in fulfillment of the requirements of this article, and shall be either subject matter or professional education courses must include four credit hours that relate are directly applicable to the teacher’s present or projected teaching assignment. CoursesTransfer from the Baccalaureate level to the Master’s level, or the current highest degree, will be held up pending completion of the above requirements. If the teacher already has an advanced degree, reimbursement will be made only for courses directly applicable to the teacher’s present or projected teaching assignments. Teachers who are employed with advanced degrees must fulfill the requirements of this article before being placed on the advanced degree schedule. 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete 2. The hours of credit received must be beyond the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last checkminimum required for certification under appropriate Michigan law. 3. The teacher desiring tuition reimbursement shall notify the office of the Superintendent in writing. The following schedule shall apply: Application Approval notification from from teacher Superintendent Fall Semester August 1 August 15 Winter Semester December 1 December 15 Spring Semester April 1 April 15 Summer Semester May 1 May 15 4. The request for reimbursement will also give written authorization to be made on forms supplied by the district to deduct School District. The teacher must provide appropriate authentication that the amount that was paid in advancecost has been incurred, the course complete and the credit given before reimbursement will be made. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during 5. As a condition of receiving such reimbursement, the summer will not be prepaidteacher must teach in the Xxxxxxxx Lake Public Schools for one school year after completion of the course for which reimbursement is sought. 6. Reimbursement will be made at the anniversary date of completion. 7. The teachers shall be advanced to the teacher only if Masters Schedule the teacher returns semester immediately following the semester in which he/she earns a Masters Degree. 8. The Board’s obligation to the Xxxxx school system tuition reimbursement program shall be according to the following schedule: 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Fall Semester $3,000 $2,000 $2,000 Winter Semester $3,000 $2,000 $2,000 Spring Semester $3,000 $2,000 $2,000 Summer Semester $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Any money not used, in the fall. 4.3.6 As of 31 May of , winter, or spring semesters, shall be applied to the contract yearfollowing semester. This includes any money that was applied from the previous semesters. Money not used in the preceding year may be carried forward for one year and applied to the total amount available not to exceed $14,000. In the event, professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply that more funds are requested for any semester than are available from this reimbursement program, the funds up to a total from that semester shall be equally distributed among the applicants. However, no applicant will receive more money than the cost of $1,500 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request for funds shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval in advance. The administration will review these requests and allocate remaining funds equitably to all who apply. 4.3.7 The Superintendent or his/her designee shallreimbursement request. B. The Board agrees to provide the necessary funds for teachers who desire to attend selected professional conferences with prior approval of the Superintendent. Travel meals, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section lodging and said judgment registration fees shall be subject to direct appeal to deemed appropriate expenses of the Board, as well as the cost of the substitute teacher needed to relieve the participant. The Board's judgment A teacher attending such conferences and meetings shall be final and not subject granted sufficient leave time to the grievance procedure attend without loss of this agreementcompensation. Teachers will upon request, submit a written report regarding such conferences. 4.3.8 Teachers may use professional development monies to pay for New Hampshire re- certification costs.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The A. In-service programs shall be planned cooperatively by representatives of the Professional Development Committee to meet at a minimum the requirements of the Revised School Code. 1. One (1) elementary and one (1) secondary principal and two (2) other administrators shall be the representatives of the Board will reserve an amount not less than $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvementat planning meetings. 2. The Board will payFour (4) teachers (one from Xxxxxx, in advanceMaplewood, the full tuition costs Jr. High, and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 per teacher per year for courses, workshops, or seminars approved in advance High School) shall be selected by the Superintendent or his/her designeeAssociation to represent the teaching staff. If required by law, a fifth teacher shall be appointed by the Association. 4.3.2 3. All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, teachers shall be submitted expected to the Superintendent for approval. attend scheduled in-service programs unless excused due to illness or some other unavoidable cause. B. Professional improvement shall be defined as professional improvement or subject matter improvement and shall not be considered as taking a specific course or number of courses. C. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit reimburse the staff for any course, which has not been approvedexpenses incurred as approved by the Professional Development Committee. 4.3.3 Approvable courses D. The Board shall, at the beginning of each school year of this contract, establish a Professional Development Fund of $30,000.00. This fund shall not accumulate and is to be used by the teaching staff of the District. 1. Guidelines for the use of the Professional Development Fund: a. The money is to be used only for professional development of the teaching staff. Professional development may include but not be limited to conferences, visitations, in-service training, etc. b. The money from this fund will be divided as follows: 70% for conferences, visitations, etc.; and 30% for in-service training. Adjustments to these percentages may be made by mutual consent of both parties. c. Approval of any request from this fund shall be graduate-level courses determined by the Professional Development Committee. This Committee shall also provide the Association and the Board with a quarterly financial report. d. Criteria for acceptance or denial of all requests shall be either subject matter established by the Professional Development Committee. e. There shall be a limit on the number of people participating in conferences or professional visitations per day - three (3) from the elementary level and three (3) from the secondary level. Additional people may be allowed to attend at the discretion of the building administrator. E. The Board shall reimburse any teacher successfully completing any course directly related to education courses that relate at an NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) accredited college or university with the following limitations: 1. Said course must have approval by the School administration prior to completion of the course. 2. Any reimbursement requests for credits earned must be filed not later than thirty (30) days after completion of the course. 3. A maximum of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per year at the end of each of the first five (5) years of teaching in the Maple Valley School District (September 1 through August 31), thereafter one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the remainder of the teacher’s assignment. Courses 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete employment with the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last check. The teacher will also give written authorization to the district to deduct the amount that was paid in advance. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during the summer will not be prepaid. Reimbursement will be made to the teacher only if the teacher returns to the Xxxxx school system in the fall. 4.3.6 As of 31 May of the contract year, professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply for funds up to a total cost of $1,500 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request for funds District shall be submitted to the Superintendent paid for approval in advance. The administration will review these requests and allocate remaining funds equitably to all who apply. 4.3.7 The Superintendent or his/her designee shall, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section and said judgment shall be subject to direct appeal to the Board. The Board's judgment shall be final and not advanced credits earned subject to the grievance procedure requirements herein. 4. Only credits earned after the approval of this agreementcontract shall be considered for reimbursement under these terms. 4.3.8 5. Any teacher receiving reimbursement payment under this provision shall stay with the District for at least one (1) full school year after receiving any payment. Any reimbursement payment received after the start of a school year shall require the teacher stay through the following school year. Teachers leaving the District before fulfilling this one (1) full school year requirement shall reimburse all tuition monies paid to them by the District in the prior twelve (12) months. 6. Any required reimbursement may be deducted from the teacher’s remaining paychecks. F. New professional employees being offered a contract will agree to give two (2) days without pay before school begins for in-service training. G. There shall be professional development in the following areas as required for the specific staff member following state standards in CPR, AED, blood borne pathogens and distribution of medication if teachers are to witness Support Staff Personnel in the distribution. H. Teachers may use select to complete professional development monies on their own time and said time will count towards their total as long as proper documentation is provided to pay for New Hampshire re- certification coststhe district. Refer to the attached PD Maple Valley Schools Optional Professional Development Waiver Form (Appendix I-1). Once proper documentation is provided to the district, the teacher is then excused from the same number of district Professional Development days and cannot have time deducted from their accumulated days or salary.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The Board will reserve an amount not less than $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvement. The Board will pay, in advance, the full tuition costs and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 per teacher per year for courses, workshops, or seminars seminars, professional organization fees/dues, travel, and professional subscriptions, approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee. 4.3.2 All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit for any course, which has not been approved. 4.3.3 Approvable courses shall be graduate-level courses and shall be either subject matter or professional education courses that relate to the teacher’s assignment. CoursesCourses presented for approval should have a specific description. Completed courses presented for salary incrementation must be accompanied by official transcripts or credentials from the institution at which they were taken indicating successful completion. For those applying for the Master’s Degree Schedule, it will be necessary only to submit to the Superintendent certification from an approved institute to the awarding of the degree. An approved institution shall mean one that is approved by the Regional Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and/or by the State Board of Higher Education. 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last check. The teacher will also give written authorization to the district to deduct the amount that was paid in advance. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during the summer will not be prepaid. Reimbursement will be made to the teacher only if the teacher returns to the Xxxxx school system in the fall. 4.3.6 As of 31 May of the contract year, professional Professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply for funds up to a total cost of $1,500 2,000 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request for funds shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval in advanceno later than May 31 of the contract year. The administration Requests will review these requests and allocate remaining funds be awarded equitably to all who applyapply based on the remaining unencumbered professional development funds available in the general budget on June 30 of the contract year. 4.3.7 The Superintendent or his/her designee shall, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section and said judgment shall be subject to direct appeal to the Board. The Board's judgment shall be final and not subject to the grievance procedure of this agreement. 4.3.8 Teachers may use professional development monies to pay for New Hampshire re- certification recertification costs.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. 4.3.1 The Board will reserve having an amount not less than interest in providing professional development opportunities for teachers, shall establish a fund (Improvement of Instruction Capital Fund) based on the formula of multiplying the number of full-time teachers by $2,000.00 for each teacher for professional improvement2,000. The Board will pay, in advance, the full tuition costs and laboratory fees to a maximum of $2,000.00 2,000 per full-time teacher per year for coursescoursework, workshops, or seminars and conferences approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The Professional development year shall by July 1 to June 30. Requested funds must be approved and encumbered by April 15 for payment during the current fiscal year, in order to determine whether excess funds exist in the trust for a pool of additional graduate course reimbursement requests (see 4.3.6) or risk disapproval due to lack of remaining funds. 4.3.2 All courses, which it is the intent of the teacher to use for salary incrementation, shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval. The Board shall be under no obligation to grant salary credit for any course, which course that has not been approved. 4.3.3 Approvable courses shall be graduate-level courses and shall be either subject matter or professional education courses that courses, which relate to the teacher’s assignmentassignment or undergraduate courses in technology for the purpose of professional improvement. CoursesCourses presented for approval should have a specific description. Official transcripts or credentials from the institution at which courses were taken indicating successful completion must be presented for salary track movement. 4.3.4 If a teacher does not complete the course or fails to make a grade of (B) or better, he/she will have the amount that was paid in advance, deducted from his/her last check. The teacher Written authorization will also give written authorization be given to the district Board to deduct the amount that was paid in advancedifference from the teacher’s last paycheck. 4.3.5 Courses/workshops approved and taken during begun prior to June 30 must be paid with professional development funds remaining from the summer will not current school year’s allotment. Courses/workshops approved and begun after July 1 must be prepaidpaid from that school year’s allotment. Reimbursement will be made It is mutually understood that if a teacher uses funds from July 1 to the start of school, that teacher only if will remain at Prospect Mountain High School through completion of the school year. It the teacher returns seeks to be released from the contract, the Board reserves the right to hold the teacher to the Xxxxx school system signed contract until reimbursement has been made for funds paid in the falladvance. 4.3.6 As of 31 May April 30 of the contract year, professional staff members who have exhausted their allotment of reserved professional development monies may apply for funds up to a total cost of $1,500 2,000 additional reimbursement from the budgeted unencumbered professional development funds for graduate level courses from regionally/nationally accredited institutions. Request Requests for funds shall be submitted to the Superintendent superintendent for approval in advance. The administration will review these requests and allocate remaining funds equitably to all who apply. 4.3.7 All funds not encumbered by June 30 of the contract year will remain in the Improvement of Instruction Capital Fund. 4.3.8 The Superintendent superintendent or his/her his designee shall, in the first instance, exercise judgment under the provisions of this section and said judgment shall be subject to direct appeal to the Board. The Board's judgment shall be final and not subject to the grievance procedure of this agreement. 4.3.8 4.3.9 Teachers may use professional development monies to pay for New Hampshire re- certification costsrecertification costs and fees.