Common use of Teacher and CTC Rights and Responsibilities Clause in Contracts

Teacher and CTC Rights and Responsibilities. A. Teachers shall have the right to join or refrain from joining the CTC without prejudice. B. The Board and the CTC agree to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended. C. Personnel File 1. Only one (1) official file shall be kept for each Teacher in the District and such file shall be kept in the central administrative office. 2. Each Teacher shall have the right to review, or may designate by written authorization a representative to review, the contents of his/her official personnel file maintained at the administrative office. The District may require reasonable advance notice from the Teacher or designee to review the personnel file. If such notice is required, it shall not be greater than two (2) full business days prior to the date requested for review. Neither the Teacher, nor a representative, shall have the right to review any document, or other material, which is exempt from disclosure under the Personnel Records Review Act, 820 ILCS 40/10. 3. All non-exempt communications including evaluations by supervisors or administrators, commendations, and validated complaints directed toward the Teacher which are included in his/her official personnel file shall be signed and dated by the Teacher prior to being placed in the file. The Teacher must sign the written material when shown; however, the signature does not indicate agreement. The Teacher shall have the right to attach dissenting material to any non-exempt item in the file. A copy of any material placed in a personnel file shall be provided to the Teacher at the same time that the material is shown to the Teacher, unless the material is exempt from disclosure. 4. In order for disciplinary or other any material regarding complaints made against a Teacher to be placed in a personnel file, such material must be verified with dates, times, places, supporting documentation or other supporting evidence confirming the accuracy of such complaint(s). The name(s) in support of the complaint, as well as the names of all other parties involved, must also be included, to the extent permitted by law. The parties acknowledge that a mere presumption of guilt does not constitute a verified complaint in the absence of supporting documentation. 5. Any written complaints or letters of discipline, which address behavior, which has jeopardized a safe school environment, may remain in the Teacher’s file and may be used for discipline. However, upon a Teacher’s request, all other written complaints or letters of discipline will be expunged from the Teacher’s file three (3) years after the date they are placed in the file and cannot be used for disciplinary purposes unless there is another complaint or letter of discipline of a similar nature against the Teacher during the three (3) year period. In the event of a subsequent disciplinary complaint or letter of a similar nature, all related disciplinary materials shall remain in the Teacher’s personnel file until three (3) years from the last date of discipline. Any complaints placed in a Teacher’s file prior to October 23, 2006, will be handled in accordance with the terms of the 1996-2006 agreement.