Common use of REDUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF Clause in Contracts

REDUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF. A. In the event of a reduction in the number of professional status members, seniority, defined as length of service in the Lexington Public School system, shall govern provided that professional staff member’s qualifications and performance are substantially equal. If there is no reduction in the FTE of any professional status member of a discipline as defined in Section C below, there is, by definition, no Reduction in Force (RIF) in that discipline. If student enrollment, budgetary constraints, or some other factor necessitates that a professional status staff member in a particular discipline be reassigned in whole or in part to a different school, the Involuntary Move language (Article 9) will apply. In applying the foregoing criteria the following shall apply: 1. Discipline shall be defined as in Section C of this Article. 2. Once it has been determined that there must be a reduction in the number of professional staff members in a specific discipline, all the professional staff members in that discipline shall be reviewed under the foregoing criteria. Normally the professional staff member(s) initially designated for reduction shall be the least senior. Exception to this rule shall be as follows: a. If a professional staff member otherwise designated for reduction has unique qualifications such that his/her reduction would negatively affect the system's ability to continue specific course offerings or maintain ongoing curriculum, then that professional staff member may be retained and the next most junior professional staff member designated for reduction. b. If a professional staff member otherwise designated for reduction has a history of performance over the last five years which is substantially superior to a more senior professional staff member in his/her discipline, then that professional staff member may be retained and, subject to the same exceptions, the next most junior professional staff member shall be reduced. c. No professional staff member shall be laid off in exception to seniority through application of the "substantial superiority" criterion unless that professional staff member is in tier two and a determination is made to continue tier two placement for a second year. 3. Any professional staff member who has been designated for reduction pursuant to Subsection 2 (above) and who has past proven experience in Lexington of at least one year in another discipline shall be compared to the professional staff members in that other discipline as if assigned therein and either retained or reduced accordingly. B. A professional status staff member who is notified of a total or partial reduction shall have the opportunity to receive a "RIF Leave of Absence" in lieu of dismissal. Such leave of absence shall be for twenty-four months from the September following the notice of reduction. In order for a professional staff member to elect the "RIF Leave of Absence", the professional staff member must, within twenty (20) days of written notification from the Superintendent of intent to recommend reduction, execute on a form agreed to by the parties, a waiver of any present or future rights under Chapter 71, Section 42 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Should the professional staff member accept recall, said waiver is null and void. C. In the event of a decrease in administrative positions, administrators who have professional status as teachers in the Lexington Public Schools will retain their rights under this Article including, but not limited to, seniority in the Unit A bargaining unit. D. Professional status staff on a "RIF Leave of Absence" shall be entitled to recall to vacant positions or newly created or reinstated positions in the discipline which they taught at the time of the "RIF Leave of Absence" or to a discipline in which they had past proven experience in Lexington. Discipline within the meaning of this paragraph shall be as follows: K-5: Elementary Classroom Teachers Elementary Mathematics Specialists Elementary Language Arts Specialists Elementary Moderate Special Needs Teachers Elementary Science Specialists Elementary Severe Special Needs Teachers Elementary Foreign Language Teachers Curriculum Coordinators in Science & Social Studies 6-12: Secondary Drama Teachers Secondary English Teachers Secondary Social Studies Teachers Secondary Information Science Teachers Secondary Foreign Language Teachers Secondary Moderate Special Needs Teachers Secondary Severe Special Needs Teachers Secondary Instructional Technology Specialists Fine Arts Psychologists Guidance Reading Teachers Instructional Technology Social Workers Library/Media Specialists Speech/Language Pathologists Music Teachers Nurses Occupational Therapists Physical Education/Wellness Physical Therapists 1. Should two or more professional staff members be eligible for the same position, the professional staff member will be selected in accordance with the criteria of paragraph A.

REDUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF. A. In the event of a reduction in the number of professional status members, seniority, defined as length of service in the Lexington Public School system, shall govern provided that professional staff member’s qualifications and performance are substantially equal. If there is no reduction in the FTE of any professional status member of a discipline as defined in Section C below, there is, by definition, no Reduction in Force (RIF) in that discipline. If student enrollment, budgetary constraints, or some other factor necessitates that a professional status staff member in a particular discipline be reassigned in whole or in part to a different school, the Involuntary Move language (Article 9) will apply. In applying the foregoing criteria the following shall apply: 1. Discipline shall be defined as in Section C of this Article. 2. Once it has been determined that there must be a reduction in the number of professional staff members in a specific discipline, all the professional staff members in that discipline shall be reviewed under the foregoing criteria. Normally the professional staff member(s) initially designated for reduction shall be the least senior. Exception to this rule shall be as follows: a. If a professional staff member otherwise designated for reduction has unique qualifications such that his/her reduction would negatively affect the system's ability to continue specific course offerings or maintain ongoing curriculum, then that professional staff member may be retained and the next most junior professional staff member designated for reduction. b. If a professional staff member otherwise designated for reduction has a history of performance over the last five years which is substantially superior to a more senior professional staff member in his/her discipline, then that professional staff member may be retained and, subject to the same exceptions, the next most junior professional staff member shall be reduced. c. No professional staff member shall be laid off in exception to seniority through application of the "substantial superiority" criterion unless that professional staff member is in tier two on an improvement plan and a determination is made to continue tier two placement this plan for a second year. 3. Any professional staff member who has been designated for reduction pursuant to Subsection 2 (above) and who has past proven experience in Lexington of at least one year in another discipline shall be compared to the professional staff members in that other discipline as if assigned therein and either retained or reduced accordingly. B. A professional status staff member who is notified of a total or partial reduction shall have the opportunity to receive a "RIF Leave of Absence" in lieu of dismissal. Such leave of absence shall be for twenty-four months from the September following the notice of reduction. In order for a professional staff member to elect the "RIF Leave of Absence", the professional staff member must, within twenty (20) days of written notification from the Superintendent of intent to recommend reduction, execute on a form agreed to by the parties, a waiver of any present or future rights under Chapter 71, Section 42 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Should the professional staff member accept recall, said waiver is null and void. C. In the event of a decrease in administrative positions, administrators who have professional status as teachers in the Lexington Public Schools will retain their rights under this Article including, but not limited to, seniority in the Unit A bargaining unit. D. Professional status staff on a "RIF Leave of Absence" shall be entitled to recall to vacant positions or newly created or reinstated positions in the discipline which they taught at the time of the "RIF Leave of Absence" or to a discipline in which they had past proven experience in Lexington. Discipline within the meaning of this paragraph shall be as follows: K-5: Elementary Classroom Teachers Elementary Mathematics Specialists Elementary Language Arts Specialists Elementary Moderate Special Needs Teachers Elementary Science Specialists Elementary Severe Special Needs Teachers Elementary Foreign Language Teachers Curriculum Coordinators in Science & Social Studies 6-12: Secondary Drama Teachers Secondary English Teachers Secondary Social Studies Teachers Secondary Information Science Teachers Secondary Foreign Language Teachers Secondary Moderate Special Needs Teachers Secondary Severe Special Needs Teachers Secondary Instructional Technology Specialists Fine Arts Psychologists Guidance Reading Teachers Instructional Technology Social Workers Library/Media Specialists Speech/Language Pathologists Music Teachers Nurses Occupational Therapists Physical Education/Wellness Physical Therapists 1. Should two or more professional staff members be eligible for the same position, the professional staff member will be selected in accordance with the criteria of paragraph A.twenty

REDUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF. A. In the event of a reduction in the number of professional status members, seniority, defined as length of service in the Lexington Public School system, shall govern provided that professional staff member’s qualifications and performance are substantially equal. If there is no reduction in the FTE of any professional status member of a discipline as defined in Section C below, there is, by definition, no Reduction in Force (RIF) in that discipline. If student enrollment, budgetary constraints, or some other factor necessitates that a professional status staff member in a particular discipline be reassigned in whole or in part to a different school, the Involuntary Move Transfer language (Article 9) will apply. In applying the foregoing criteria the following shall apply: 1. Discipline shall be defined as in Section C of this Article. 2. Once it has been determined that there must be a reduction in the number of professional staff members in a specific discipline, all the professional staff members in that discipline shall be reviewed under the foregoing criteria. Normally the professional staff member(s) initially designated for reduction shall be the least senior. Exception to this rule shall be as follows: a. If a professional staff member otherwise designated for reduction has unique qualifications such that his/her reduction would negatively affect the system's ability to continue specific course offerings or maintain ongoing curriculum, then that professional staff member may be retained and the next most junior professional staff member designated for reduction. b. If a professional staff member otherwise designated for reduction has a history of performance over the last five years which is substantially superior to a more senior professional staff member in his/her discipline, then that professional staff member may be retained and, subject to the same exceptions, the next most junior professional staff member shall be reduced. c. No professional staff member shall be laid off in exception to seniority through application of the "substantial superiority" criterion unless that professional staff member is in tier two and a determination is made to continue tier two placement for a second year. 3. Any professional staff member who has been designated for reduction pursuant to Subsection 2 (above) and who has past proven experience in Lexington of at least one year in another discipline shall be compared to the professional staff members in that other discipline as if assigned therein and either retained or reduced accordingly. B. A professional status staff member who is notified of a total or partial reduction shall have the opportunity to receive a "RIF Leave of Absence" in lieu of dismissal. Such leave of absence shall be for twenty-four months from the September following the notice of reduction. In order for a professional staff member to elect the "RIF Leave of Absence", the professional staff member must, within twenty (20) days of written notification from the Superintendent of intent to recommend reduction, execute on a form agreed to by the parties, a waiver of any present or future rights under Chapter 71, Section 42 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Should the professional staff member accept recall, said waiver is null and void. C. In the event of a decrease in administrative positions, administrators who have professional status as teachers in the Lexington Public Schools will retain their rights under this Article including, but not limited to, seniority in the Unit A bargaining unit. D. Professional status staff on a "RIF Leave of Absence" shall be entitled to recall to vacant positions or newly created or reinstated positions in the discipline which they taught at the time of the "RIF Leave of Absence" or to a discipline in which they had past proven experience in Lexington. Discipline within the meaning of this paragraph shall be as follows: K-5: Elementary Classroom Teachers Elementary Mathematics Specialists Elementary Language Arts Specialists Elementary Moderate Special Needs Teachers Elementary Science Specialists Elementary Severe Special Needs Teachers Elementary Foreign Language Teachers Curriculum Coordinators in Science & Social Studies 6-12: Secondary Drama Teachers Secondary English Teachers Secondary Social Studies Teachers Secondary Information Science Teachers Secondary Foreign Language Teachers Secondary Moderate Special Needs Teachers Secondary Severe Special Needs Teachers Secondary Instructional Technology Specialists Fine Arts Psychologists Guidance Reading Teachers Instructional Technology Social Workers Library/Media Specialists Speech/Language Pathologists Music Teachers Nurses Occupational Therapists Physical Education/Wellness Physical Therapists 1. Should two or more professional staff members be eligible for the same position, the professional staff member will be selected in accordance with the criteria of paragraph A.Teachers