B. The term "employee" shall include all teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, school psychologists, librarians, reading teachers, learning disability specialists, athletic trainer, instructional aides, non-instructional aides, and all other professional staff under contract, and secretaries, cafeteria workers, hall monitors, custodians, bus drivers, and bus aides; but excluding confidential employees, supervisory employees, and managerial executives within the meaning of the Act.

C. Non-teaching personnel who shall be charged with the specific responsibility to supervise and evaluate teachers, however, shall be excluded from the unit.

D. The term "teacher" as herein used shall include all certified professional educators. The term "support personnel" as herein used shall include all secretaries, clerks, administrative secretaries, cafeteria workers, custodians, instructional aides, non-instructional aides, hall monitors, bus drivers and bus aides.

E. The term "employee(s)" as herein used shall include all teachers and support personnel.











ARTICLE II - NEGOTIATIONS PROCEDURE

A. By the second Wednesday of December, the Association will submit to the Board of Education a copy of its proposal. By the second Wednesday in January following the Board’s receipt of the Association’s proposal, the Board of Education will submit its counterproposal to the Association. Meetings shall be scheduled for negotiations as soon thereafter as possible at mutually agreed to times and places.

B. All meetings shall terminate at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise extended by mutual agreement.

C. Provisions agreed upon by the negotiating representatives of the Association and the Board may be submitted individually to the parent bodies for approval. They shall not be formally adopted, however, nor become effective until such a time as they are ratified as a total agreement by the parent bodies.

D. The Board and the Association shall, upon request of the other party, freely exchange any pertinent information, data, or surveys which shall not constitute a breach of statutes or rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the local Board policy, or Statutes of the State of New Jersey. Association representatives shall have access to the minutes of the Board, as well as the annual audit report and copies of the current year's budget.

ARTICLE III - SABBATICAL LEAVE POLICY

A. The Board, in seeking to enhance the general welfare and competency of the professional staff, and to stimulate enrichment of the education environment, shall grant sabbatical leave to full-time professional employees, not to exceed one (1) in any one (1) academic year, in accordance with the following provisions.

Eligible professional staff members shall have served a minimum of seven (7) consecutive years in the Clearview District immediately prior to the year of requested leave.

Such leave shall be restricted to post baccalaureate study within the scope of the candidate's area of certification or teaching assignment, and shall be granted for a period of not less than one half ( ½ ) academic year, five (5) months, nor more than one (1) full contractual year.

Reimbursement shall be at the rate of one half ( ½ ) of the salary for which the employee would be eligible during the term of leave, as determined by his/her appropriate placement on the prevailing salary schedule. The year of sabbatical leave shall be included for purposes of determination.

Requests for sabbatical leave shall be submitted to the Superintendent by January 10^th of the year prior to the requested sabbatical. Such a request shall include a detailed outline of the applicants proposed program for the sabbatical period. In the event the number of applications shall exceed the number of leaves which may be awarded in a given year, a recommendation shall be made, by the Superintendent, based on which proposals would seem to be potentially most beneficial to the educational program of the district. An applicant shall be notified of the disposition of this request within two (2) months following submission.

A recipient, during leave, shall be eligible for such "fringe benefits" as any other full-time employee, excepting that they shall not be eligible for reimbursement for tuition under the "Professional Improvement Policy" if tuition is otherwise paid for, such as by a fellowship or grant.

Recipients shall agree to return to duties within the district for a period of not less than two (2) full contractual years following such leave. In default of such agreement, the recipient shall reimburse the Board the full amount if he/she returns for less than one (1) year, or one half ( ½ ) the awarded amount if for more than one (1), but less than two (2) years.

Recipients, following such leave, shall be assigned to a position and duties essentially comparable to those engaged in prior to such leave.

Credit for salary guide purposes shall be granted for the sabbatical period.

The recipient of a leave shall be eligible for subsequent leave after having completed seven (7) additional years following resumption of his/her duties.

ARTICLE IV - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A. Definitions:

1. Definition of Grievance

A grievance is a claim by an employee or the Association based upon the interpretation, application or violation of this agreement, policies or administrative decisions affecting terms and conditions of employment.
Non-Arbitral Grievance
A "non-arbitral grievance" is an allegation by an employee covered by this Agreement, or the Association, that there has been a violation of Board policies, or that an Administrative decision violates the rights of the employee. The Board shall be the last step in this procedure on this type of grievance. These non-contract grievances may not be submitted to binding arbitration.
Arbitral Grievance:
An "arbitral grievance" is an allegation that there has been a violation of a provision of this Agreement. Such grievances may be submitted through the entire grievance procedure, up to and including binding arbitration, as the final step in that procedure. Only grievances that deal with the violations of the provisions of this Agreement may be submitted to binding arbitration.

A "grievant" is an employee who files the grievance or the Association.

5. Representative:

A "representative" is an employee who files the grievance or the Association.

"Day" means a day when district schools are open for business.

"Party in Interest" is a person, agent, or agency with an interest in the grievance.

1. Grievances shall be processed promptly and expeditiously.

2. Formal grievances and appeals shall be filed in writing.

3. Communications and decisions concerning formal grievances shall be in writing.

4. A grievant shall be permitted a representative at all levels of the procedure.

5. There shall be no additional evidence submitted during the grievance process by either party once a grievance has been submitted to the Board.

6. Failure by the grievant to process a grievance within the specified time shall render the grievance null and void.

7. Failure by the Board to issue a decision within the specified time limits shall advance the grievance to the next level.

8. Grievances shall be adjudicated according to the terms of this procedure and the filing, pendency, or hearing of any grievance shall not impede the normal management of the work force or operations of any of the activities or functions of the Board.

9. Forms for grievance processing shall be developed between the parties, and shall be mutually agreed by the parties, and distributed on an as needed basis by either party.

10. The parties in interest will cooperate in investigating and providing pertinent information concerning a grievance being processed.

11. Notice of hearings shall be given to the grievant at least five (5) days in advance, and such hearing shall be held on mutually agreeable premises.

C. Processing:

1. Step One - A grievance, to be considered under this procedure, must be initiated by the grievant within fifteen (15) days from the time of its occurrence, or the time when the aggrieved became aware, or should have become aware, of the alleged grievance. Any employee covered by this Agreement who has a grievance shall discuss it first with his/her Principal, or immediate supervisor, in an attempt to resolve the matter informally at that level of supervision.

2. Step Two - If, as a result of the above discussion, the matter is not resolved satisfactorily within five (5) school days, the grievant shall set forth his/her grievance in writing to the Principal or Director of Pupil Personnel Services, as applicable, or in the case of non-teaching personnel, to the next level of supervision, on the form provided. The Principal, Director of Pupil Personnel, or appropriate supervisor, shall communicate his/her decision to the grievant in writing within ten (10) school days after receipt of the written grievance.

The written grievance must specify the following:

The date of the occurrence giving rise to the grievance

The date the grievance is filed.

The nature of the grievance

The specific provisions of the contract or specific board policies allegedly violated

The remedy being sought

4. Step Four - If the grievance is not resolved to the grievant's satisfaction, he/she may request, not later than five (5) days after receipt of the Superintendent's decision, a review by the Board. The request shall be submitted in writing to the Superintendent of Schools, and all related papers and evidence shall be attached. The Board, or a committee thereof, shall review the grievance and shall, at the option of the Board, hold a hearing with the grievant and render a decision in writing within twenty (20) days of receipt of the grievance by the Board.

5. Step Five -

a. If a decision of the Board does not resolve the grievance to the satisfaction of the grievant, and the Association wishes review by a third party, the grievance may be submitted to binding arbitration, as long as the grievance concerns a matter that is an allegation that a provision of the contract has been violated. If arbitration is requested, the Association shall notify the Board of Education within ten (10) days of receipt of the Board's decision in Step Four. The notification to the Board of Education shall be submitted by certified mail to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.

b. Grievances concerning (1) any matter for which a specified method of review is prescribed, either by law or in any regulation of the State Commissioner of Education, or any matter which, according to law, is either beyond the scope of the Board authority, or limited to action by the Board alone; (2) a complaint of a non-tenure teacher which arises by reason of his/her not being re-employed; (3) a complaint by any teacher occasioned by an appointment to or lack of appointment to, retention or lack of retention in these positions, in which tenure is either not possible or not required; (4) any matter not part of this Agreement; and (5) any Board policy shall not be deemed to be arbitrable.

D. Services of an Arbitrator:

The following procedures shall be used to secure the services of an arbitrator.

1. Once the Board of Education has received the notification within the time limits stated in C-5, Paragraph A above, the Association may request the Public Employment Relations Commission arbitration selection procedures be invoked. It will be the responsibility of the parties to follow those selection procedures in determining who shall serve as arbitrator in each instance.

2. The following rules will be binding on any arbitrator and the parties.

a. The arbitrator must first rule on the arbitrability of the grievance, if so requested by either party.

E. End of the Year Grievances:

If a grievance occurs at the end of the school year, and if an insufficient number of school days exist before the last day of school in which the grievance can be processed fully, the time limits may be reduced or extended by mutual agreement.

A. Teachers:

1. Teachers shall be evaluated only by professional employees of the district who hold bonafide state certificates for supervision, and only in terms of those documents which have been placed in their files.

2. Signed evaluations will be completed in duplicate, with one (1) copy transmitted to the teacher. One (1) of the copies shall be signed by the teacher and returned to the evaluator; the other will be retained by the teacher. Should the teacher wish to make comment about his/her evaluation in general, or about any part of his/her evaluation in particular, he/she may do so on the evaluation sheet he/she signs and returns. Additional sheets may be appended to the original evaluation, but each must be signed and dated by the person originating same.

3. Teachers shall receive a copy of any written evaluation and/or other reports, with the exception of letters of recommendation, and be given an opportunity to note differences of opinion on such reports prior to their inclusion in their personal file. The building principal shall undertake a review of all files of each professional employee assigned to his/her building at least every three (3) years. Teachers wishing an interim review may initiate a request through the Association representative, or directly with the building principal. During such review, the principal shall remove from the file such data and/or reports which would seem to have become irrelevant. Within ten (10) days of the review, the teacher concerned will receive a list of the documents contained therein.

Under this procedure, end-year summary evaluations will be presented, utilizing observation evaluation data previously included in the employee's file.

1. Evaluation of employee performance will be conducted by an appropriate supervisor or administrator on at least one (1) occasion during the contract year. An employee will receive a written evaluation sheet after completion of the necessary evaluation activities. If the employee wishes to discuss the supervisory comments on the evaluation sheet, the employee should contact the immediate supervisor and make an appointment for said discussion. Any disagreements the employee has with the evaluation should be made known to the immediate supervisor during the conference.

2. All conferences held in connection with this Article will be held in strict confidence, and not in the presence of other members of the bargaining unit, or other employees of the district.

4. Under this procedure, end-year summary evaluations will be presented, utilizing observation and evaluation data previously included in the employee's file.

5. All employees will receive a copy of their written evaluation at least twenty-four (24) hours before a conference.

6. Placement of employee's initials on an evaluation form signifies receipt, but not acceptance, of the contents of the form.

7. An employee may attach a written comment to an evaluation form after the conference is concluded. Such response shall also be sent to the employee's supervisor.

8. If an employee wishes to review the contents of his/her personal file, the employee must notify the Superintendent for an appointment at least seventy-two (72) hours before the file is to be reviewed. No file may be reviewed without an administrator present, and no material may be removed from the file.

9. If the intent of the supervisor is to take disciplinary action based on the evaluation, the employee shall be entitled to a representative at the conference to review said evaluation.

A. The Board of Education subscribes to the belief that preference should be given to promotion of qualified staff personnel to appropriate vacancies as they occur. In consideration of its legal and moral responsibilities, however, the Board of Education, through the Superintendent, retains the right to assign and/or reassign personnel in accordance with the best interests of the educational program and the school district.

B. To implement this policy, the Superintendent shall cause written notice to be posted, announcing all vacancies as they occur, on the bulletin board in each main office, and a copy forwarded to the President of the Association. Such notice shall include the nature of the vacancy, time to submit, requirements for the position, and data pertaining to salary.

ARTICLE VIII - WORK TIME

A. WORK DAY:

a. Teachers shall signify their availability for duty by properly indicating their availability on the "check-in" board at the time designated for him/her by the building principal. Such designated time shall not be earlier than 7:20 a.m., nor later than 8:30 a.m. Teachers may leave by properly noting their departures on the "sign-out" board four hundred and thirty minutes (430) minutes after his/her designated "check-in time," except as set forth in Paragraph b. below. Teachers will be notified of their "sign-in time" when they are notified of their classroom assignments. The "sign-in time" will not be modified unless required by the needs of this district.

b. For the purpose of general faculty or departmental meetings or other meetings of a similar nature, teachers may be required to "check-in" earlier or "sign-out" later than as specified above, provided that (1) they shall be notified at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance (except in cases of emergency), (2) such earlier or later scheduling shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes, (3) such earlier or later scheduling shall not exceed four (4) in one (1) calendar month or twenty (20) in one (1) school year.

c. The weekly teaching load for all teachers shall not exceed twenty-five (25) teaching periods and five (5) coverage periods, or thirty (30) teaching periods or an eight (8) period day. All teachers shall receive two (2) planning periods per day, while departmental chairpersons shall receive two (2) planning periods per day, and one (1) department chairperson period per day.

d. All teachers shall be entitled to a duty-free lunch period during the hours normally used for lunch periods in the school. The duty-free lunch period shall not be less than the lunch period time allowed to students.

e. The teacher work day shall not exceed four hundred and thirty (430) minutes, and shall end no later than 3:15 p.m., except as is otherwise provided for in this Article, and in accordance with established practice regarding evening meetings, i.e. Back-to-School Night, Achievement Night, etc.

f. All teachers may be assigned an additional supervisory duty period per day, with a stipend of $1,800.00 per duty, for such an additional assignment. If this supervisory duty is necessary, those teachers available during such a time who have fulfilled contractual assignments will be offered the opportunity for such an assignment. The assignment, time, and stipend shall be divided equally among those who agree to accept. If no one agrees, the assignment will be made to all those who are eligible, with the stipend to be equally divided. Department Chairpersons cannot volunteer for such an assignment, though they may be eligible, but can be required to fulfill this position with the aforementioned stipend.

g. Up to six (6) persons (3 middle school, 3 high school) will be hired to supervise afternoon bus duty at a stipend of $ $1,800 each. Should no one apply, the duty will be assigned to and distributed evenly among all eligible teachers.

h. No teacher having six (6) teaching assignments can be assigned an extra duty.

i. No teacher shall be assigned more than four (4) consecutive teaching periods during a regular full day of school. Teachers may be assigned more than four (4) consecutive periods during an abbreviated school day. However, no teacher will be assigned consecutive classes that would encompass more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive minutes of teaching.

j. Work before or after the normal work day of four hundred and thirty (430) minutes shall be scheduled only by the appropriate admini-strator. In such cases, compensatory time equal to the time worked shall be granted. That time shall be taken within forty (40) working days thereafter at a time mutually agreed to by the administrator and the employee. The administrator shall not unreasonably deny the scheduling of the compensatory time. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to diminish the obligations set forth in Paragraphs b. and e. above.

k. Teachers, upon the completion of their assigned duties, shall be excused following the dismissal of pupils on Fridays and days preceding a holiday, unless otherwise directed by the principal on the preceding day.

l. Teachers who travel between the two buildings will not be given an assignment which forces them to travel during their scheduled duty-free lunch period.

m. Any teacher assigned four (4) instructional classes per day for five (5) days per week will be considered a full time teacher.

2. Part time teachers (those assigned one (1) to three (3) instructional classesper day for five (5) days per week) will receive one (1) planning period per day. Part time teachers cannot be assigned or volunteer for an extra duty assignment.

a. The secretarial work day will not exceed four hundred and eighty (480) consecutive minutes, and

b. will include a sixty (60) minute duty-free lunch, and two (2) fifteen (15) minute work breaks, one (1) each morning and afternoon.

c. Secretaries will be dismissed after four hundred and fifty (450) consecutive minutes on the work days prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday.

d. During an eight (8) week period occurring during the summer recess, the secretarial work day will consist of four hundred and fifty (450) consecutive minutes, including a sixty (60) minute duty-free lunch. Lunch schedules will be at the discretion of the building administrators.

4. Custodians:

a. Custodians will not work more than four hundred and eighty (480) consecutive minutes, plus a thirty (30) minute duty-free lunch. No custodian will be required to work more than four hundred and eighty (480) consecutive minutes within a twenty-four (24) hour period without receiving overtime pay, and

b. will be granted a fifteen (15) minute work break each morning and afternoon.

c. Whenever a change in hours occurs due to emergency (i.e.: snow days), it is the responsibility of the supervisor to directly contact the custodian and provide specific instructions.

5. Food Service Employees:

a. No food service employee will work more than four hundred and eighty (480) consecutive minutes, including

a thirty (30) minute duty-free lunch,

but only those employees who are scheduled to work three hundred and sixty (360) minutes or more will be entitled to the thirty (30) minute duty-free lunch.

6. Bus Drivers and Transportation Aides:

a. Bus drivers hired prior to June 30, 2000 will be guaranteed a minimum of seven hundred and twenty (720) hours per school year, which will typically equate to twenty (20) hours weekly.

b. In addition to the minimum hours allocation as set forth in paragraph one, each bus driver will accept up to an additional twenty (20) hours of work per week, as assigned by their supervisor; without receiving over-time pay treatment. Said additional assignments will consist of any type of route or trips, as is determined by the supervisor.

c. Bus drivers will not be required to work more than forty (40) hours per week.

e. Each bus driver will be guaranteed a one-half (½) hour maintenance pay per work day.

f. All individual AM and PM high school, grammar school, vocational school, kindergarten, special education, and late runs will be paid a minimum of one hour each. In the event that one of these runs exceeds one hour, drivers will be compensated in quarter hour increments to the next quarter hour. Actual beginning and ending times, as well as ending times for payment purposes, will be determined by the Transportation Coordinator.

g. In the event that there exists a period of time of one (1) hour or less between high school, special education, and grammar school runs (AM or PM) in which the drivers are not "on the road", drivers will be compensated in quarter hour increments up to a maximum of thirty (30) minutes.

h. Drivers assigned to all other runs not listed in Paragraph f. will be paid a minimum of one (1) hour for each of these runs. In the event that a run exceeds one (1) hour, drivers will be compensated in quarter hour increments to the next quarter hour.

i. If a driver wishes to have their regular run certified for additional verified time, they shall, no later than September 30th of each school year, present to the Transportation Coordinator in writing a request for re-certification. Additional verified time shall be added to the drivers approved contract, and will be retroactive to the first day of driving for the year certified.

j. In the event that drivers are required to perform additional responsibilities which will be performed each day until the end of the school year, and are one (1) hour or more in duration, these hours will be added to the driver's contract retroactive to the date the change was made. If the additional time is less than one (1) hour, these hours will not be added to the contract, but will be considered in the event that the driver is unable to perform their duties due to illness or work related injury (workers compen-sation). If a driver's contracted time is reduced, the difference between the contracted hours and reduced time hours will be made up through additional assignments.

k. The Transportation Coordinator will make every effort to assign extra hours on an equitable basis.

l. Prior to the start of the school year, all routes will be posted for inspection no sooner than August 15, with a meeting being held no sooner than three working days later to allow drivers to request routes by seniority. These requests will be considered by the Transportation Coordinator based on seniority, with every attempt being made to honor these requests. However, the final decision as to the assignment of all routes will be made by the Transportation Coordinator.

n. Overnight trips will not be chargeable as extra hours.

o. In those instances when it is necessary to reduce the pay for one (1) of the above-described employees, due to day(s) not worked, the following steps will be taken:

(1) If the hours are to be deducted from the employee's contracted pay, information will be provided to the payroll department, indicating the number of hours the employee did not work.

(a) The total number of hours not worked will be multiplied by the employee's hourly rate (excluding longevity) to determine the amount to be reduced from the employee's contracted pay.

(b) When reducing the pay for hourly employees, only the actual number of hours not worked will be considered.

(2) If the hours are to be deducted from extra hours worked, the actual hours not worked will be reduced from the appropriate time sheet before being submitted to the payroll department. In this instance, the contracted pay will not be reduced.

p. In those instances when an hourly employee leaves or enters the district after the start of the school year, the steps listed below will be followed to determine any adjustments to the contract. Leaving during the school year:

(1) A calculation will be made to determine the total number of hours the employee has worked, from the beginning of the school year, until the day he/she leaves the district.

(2) This number will be compared to the pay the employee has actually received up until the time he/she leaves the district.

(3) If the total number of hours the employee has worked, multiplied by the employee's hourly wage, exceeds the amount actually paid to the employee, then an adjustment will be made, in the last pay, in which the difference owed to the employee will be added to the contracted pay.

(4) If the total number of hours the employee has worked, multiplied by the employee's hourly wage, is less than the amount actually paid to the employee, then an adjustment will be made, in the last pay, in which the difference owed to the district will be deducted from the contracted pay. If the amount to be deducted is greater than the contracted pay for that period, this amount will be deducted from any extra pay owed, or will be reimbursed by the employee to the district.

q. Bus Drivers will be paid seventy-five percent (75%) of full rate for stand-by time (stand-by time being defined as the time that exists between full rate driving time for co-curricular and athletic trips).

(1) For trips involving stand-by time, drivers will be guaranteed a minimum of one (1) hour driving time each way. Any driving time over one (1) hour will be figured in one-quarter (1/4) hour increments.

(2) Drivers will be guaranteed full rate for contracted hours.

r. Any run which starts before 6:00 A.M. will be guaranteed a minimum of four (4) hours pay, plus maintenance.

7. Instructional Aides:

The regular work day shall not exceed seven (7) hours.

The regular work day shall not exceed seven (7) hours.

The regular work day will equal four hundred thirty (430) minutes.

B. WORK WEEK:

The work week of all employees will be from Monday to Friday, inclusive. However, the parties recognize that bus transportation of students, at times, occurs on other days, and bus drivers and aides are required to work, as necessary, to provide that transportation. The work week of all custodians, initially, hired prior to July 1, 1996, will be from Monday to Friday, inclusive. For those hired on or after July 1, 1996, the work week will be from Monday to Sunday.

b. including two (2) days for the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Convention.

c. Make-up days for inclement weather or other emergencies will be scheduled at the Board's discretion.

a. The secretarial work year will include all weeks that a secretary is under contract.

b. The secretary will be at his/her appointed station, except on holidays and vacations as hereinafter designated, and on Saturdays and Sundays of the work week, and on days when school is closed for inclement weather.

c. The work year of twelve-month (12) secretaries will begin on July 1st and end on June 30th following.

d. The work year of eleven-month (11) secretaries will begin on August 1st and end on June 30th following.

e. The work year of ten-month (10) secretaries will be ten (10) consecutive calendar months long.

3. Custodians:

a. The custodial work year will include all weeks that a custodian is under contract.

b. The custodian will be at his/her appointed station, except on holidays and vacations as hereinafter designated, and on Saturdays and Sundays of the work week.

c. The custodial work year will begin on July 1^st and end on the following June 30th, for twelve (12) month custodians.

d. The custodial work year will be eleven (11) consecutive calendar months for eleven (11) month custodians.

e. The work year for ten (10) month custodians will be ten (10) consecutive calendar months long.

4. Food Service Employees:

a. All food service hourly employees are guaranteed a minimum of one hundred and eighty (180) working days in the work year.

b. The Board, at its discretion, may require more than one hundred and eighty (180) days per contract year without incurring an overtime rate of pay for the employee.

5. Bus Drivers and Transportation Aides:

Ordinarily, bus transportation needs do not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days per school year. The scheduling and assigning of bus drivers shall depend upon those needs, as determined by the Board.

The regular work year shall not exceed one hundred eighty-three (183) days.

7. Lavatory Aides:

The regular work year shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days.

The regular work year shall not exceed one hundred eighty-six (186) days, August 25^th through June 25^th. An additional stipend of $ 5,000 will compensate up to 25 work days and necessary overtime hours.

1. Overtime is defined as an amount of time in excess of forty (40) hours per work week as such time is herein defined.

2. The overtime rate of pay is one and one-half (1 ½ ) times the employee's negotiated pay rate, multiplied by the amount of time worked in excess of the negotiated time limits.

3. Custodians who may work in any other job description for additional hours or days shall not be entitled to be paid as custodians.

Overtime rates will be paid only if the employer requires the employee to
work additional time.

E. VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS:

1. Vacations:

a. All twelve (12) month employees are granted two (2) weeks paid vacation after one (1) year of employment. An additional one (1) day per year will be added each year after the fifth (5) consecutive contract year, continuing to a maximum of four (4) weeks.

b. All eleven (11) month employees are granted one (1) weeks vacation pay at the end of their contract year, but no vacation time during their eleven (11) months under contract.

c. Ten (10) month employees are granted no vacation time and no vacation pay.

Vacations will normally be taken during the summer closing of school, excluding the week after school closes and the week before it reopens, and will be granted on the basis of seniority. Provisions for taking a vacation at other times of the year shall be approved by the Superintendent.

The scheduling of vacations shall not leave any school building without at least two (2) secretarial/clerical employees at their work stations.

(1) New Year's Eve day and New Year's Day (If both of these days should fall on Saturday and Sunday, the preceding or following work day will be designated as the holiday.).

(2) Martin Luther King Day.

(3) Presidents' Day and the Friday preceding.

(4) Good Friday.

(5) Memorial Day.

(6) July Fourth (If July 4th falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, it shall result in a four day weekend. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it shall be taken as a holiday on the workday designated as the National Holiday.)

(7) Labor Day and the Friday preceding.

(8) Thanksgiving Day and the Friday immediately following.

(9) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (If both of these days should fall on Saturday and Sunday, the preceding or following work day will be designated as the holiday).

b. The following days are holidays for secretaries only.

(1) Two (2) days each during the winter and spring recesses when such recesses exist.

(2) Such days are to be taken two (2) at each recess, or four (4) at one and none at the other, the latter in accordance with the employee's desire, and at the employer's discretion.

(3) Should one or both recesses fail to exist, due to emergency, no benefit shall automatically accrue to the secretaries, nor shall the impact be negotiable.

c. Two days vacation will be provided to all Custodians, Grounds and Maintenance during the winter recess when such recess exists, unless the Superintendent determines that there exists a special need which would require their attendance.

d. Holidays will be granted only to those employees who would otherwise be working that day.

ARTICLE IX - PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT POLICY

A. TUITION REIMBURSEMENT - TEACHERS:

The Board will grant tuition reimbursement on the following basis:

1. The teacher must submit the request to the Superintendent at least forty-five (45) days prior to enrollment, but not more than (90) days prior to enrollment. The request shall include the school, the course, and a statement explaining how the course is directly related to the professional teaching responsibilities of the employee.

The course must be for graduate credit at a minimum
On-line courses will be eligible subject to the discretion of the Superintendent and the Board.
All courses approved as of December 11, 2007 will count toward the Board’s cap for the 2007-08 school year.

3. After the course is successfully completed (B or better), then the teacher will be reimbursed for full tuition, but not to exceed the tuition rate charged by Rowan University for graduate credit.

The maximum amount a teacher will be reimbursed for courses completed within one (1) year (July 1 to June 30) will be equivalent to the tuition charged by Rowan University for six (6) graduate credits.

The Board shall have no obligation to grant any tuition reimbursement request if the aggregate annual cap set forth below is reached:

One-third of the annual tuition bank shall be allocated to each semester. If the funds are not spent in that semester, the funds will be rolled to the next semester for the remainder of the fiscal year if applicable.
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To receive reimbursement, the teacher will present documentary evidence of the cost and successful completion within thirty (30) days after receiving the official grade. After receivingthe documentary evidence, the teacher will receive reimbursement within sixty (60) days. If the teacher resigns or retires prior to completing the following school year, the teacher shall reimburse the Board for any tuition paid. Payment must be made within (60) days. The Board may deduct an amount, equal to the tuition due, from the final employee payroll check(s) if the reimbursement due to the Board is not paid in full.

The Superintendent’s office shall submit a listing of all requests made under these provisions to the President of the CEA twice a year (on or before September 30 and January 30) with an accounting of money allotted from the annual cap.

Eligibility for tuition reimbursement will be based on the above provisions and will be made in order of receipt of request.

10. Horizontal movement on the salary guide will be implemented annually effective July 1 for any educational attainments earned throughout the year. Guide placement on July 1 will remain intact through June 30.

11. The Board may also grant tuition reimbursement outside the defined cap based on the following. Teachers may submit a request to the Superintendent for courses that do not fit into the previously described criteria. The Superintendent may place the request on a Board agenda with a recommendation. The Board will act and the decision will be final. If the course is approved, the criteria for reimbursement as described above will apply.

B. CUSTODIAL STAFF:

1. Each year, two (2) members of the custodial staff will be permitted to attend the New Jersey Education Association Convention (one day maximum). Selection will be made on a first come basis with seniority being a consideration. All staff members will be provided an equal opportunity to attend.
ARTICLE X - DEDUCTION OF DUES

A. The Board of Education Secretary is directed to deduct organization dues from salary checks in accordance with written authorization from the State Association, New Jersey Statutes, and State Board of Education regulations. Payment of such dues will be made to the Association Treasurer according to provisions of the statute.

B. The Board is absolved of any responsibility for the disbursement of dues money, once said funds are received by the Treasurer or the President of the local Association. The local Association will notify the Board of Education of the names of its officers.

































ARTICLE XI - LEAVES OF ABSENCE

A. SICK LEAVE:

1. All employees will be entitled to a number of sick leave days each year, equal to the number of months in their contract year, to begin on the first official day of said contract year whether or not they report for duty on that day.

2. Unused sick days shall accumulate from year to year with no maximum limit.

3. Upon the retirement from employment with the school district, pursuant to the provisions of the Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund or the Public Employee Retirement System, whichever is applicable, the Board of Education will buy back unused accumulated sick days upon the following conditions.

In order for an employee to obtain reimbursement he or she must not use more than days defined below in the final year of employment. An exception will only be made for an absence due to illness or injury that is substantiated by a doctor’s note. The following table will be used in determining whether or not an employee has met the criteria.

Teachers – Must not use more than 9 sick days to qualify
10-month Employees – Must not use more than 10 sick days to qualify

12-month Employees – Must not use more than 11 sick days to qualify

The employee must have had at least ten (10) years of service in the school district prior to retirement.

Accumulated sick days will be subject to the buy back provision based upon the following rates and conditions:

Teachers: Minimum to qualify = 25 days Maximum buy back = 150 days
Rate = $60.00 per day

Other Employees: Minimum to qualify = 25 days

Rate = $54.00 per day

The employee will receive the reimbursement no later than sixty (60) days following retirement, providing he/she has officially notified the Board of the intent to retire by December 31st of the year preceding his/her retirement. If not, payment will be made no later than eighteen (18) months after retirement.

In case of death, the reimbursement will be paid to the appointed beneficiary or estate.

The Board may grant extended leaves of absence without remuneration for employees. The Board of Education may grant leaves for no longer than two (2) years. Such leaves shall be in accordance with the following procedures.

Three (3) personal days per year shall be granted for personal business which cannot be conducted outside the regular work day, for example, house closing, court appearance, doctor's visit, graduation, etc. Notification of such day shall be communicated to the appropriate administrator by filling out the personal day form at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance, whenever possible, and noting the reason on the list provided. In the case of an emergency, the appropriate administrator should be contacted by telephone. Unused personal days will be accumulated as sick leave, and shall be subject to the buy-back provision (Article XI - A.3).

Any personal days taken before or after the Winter break, Spring break, President's weekend, or on the first day or last day of the school year, shall be charged as two (2) personal days.

If a unit member takes a personal day on the days mentioned above, and has only one (1) personal day to his/her credit, said unit member shall be docked a day's pay, plus the personal day.

The Superintendent has the authority to grant approval for emergency reasons on the days mentioned above (not subject to paragraph 3) if a day is available.

Employees shall be granted five (5) days in any one instance in the event of death of employee's spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or partner in longstanding.

Employees shall be granted three (3) days in any one (1) instance in the event of death of son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and any other member of the immediate household.

An additional two (2) days can be granted by the Superintendent for special circumstances, however, no more than five (5) days will be granted at any one time.

2. Usually, the request for child rearing leave shall be submitted at the same time as the notice and request referred to in Paragraph E.1.above.

The aggregate sum that the Board of Education will contribute to health insurance benefits for the bargaining unit during 2007/2008 will equal the amount required to ensure that all employees are fully covered under their current plan and tier level of coverage for each member of the unit employed and determined by the Board of Education to be eligible for health benefits, as of July 1.

The aggregate sum that the Board of Education will contribute to health insurance benefits for the bargaining unit during 2008/2009 will equal the amount required to ensure that all employees are fully covered under their current plan and tier level of coverage for each member of the unit employed and determined by the Board of Education to be eligible for health benefits, as of July 1.
The aggregate sum that the Board of Education will contribute to health insurance benefits for the bargaining unit during 2009/2010 will equal the amount required to ensure that all employees are fully covered under their current plan and tier level of coverage for each member of the unit employed and determined by the Board of Education to be eligible for health benefits, as of July 1.

Each member will continue in his or her current tier level of coverage for the duration of the contract unless a “life-altering event” or a change in opt-out status occurs.
In each year of the contract, the Board’s contribution to health insurance coverage as specified above for each eligible member of the bargaining unit shall be totaled and that sum shall be used to provide appropriate coverage to all unit members and their dependents (parent/child, husband/wife, family) for that contract year.

Co-pays for the duration of this contract will be as follows:
Office Visits Specialists ER Visit
7/1/07 – 6/30/08 $10 $15 $50
7/1/08 – 6/30/09 $15 $25 $50
7/1/09 – 6/30/10 $15 $25 $50
Effective January 1, 2008 employees who are currently enrolled in “Horizon 9” plan will be permitted to continue in the plan provided they make contributions. Contributions will be made through payroll deduction. The contribution will be based upon the cost difference between the “Horizon 8” (or equivalent) and “Horizon 9” (or equivalent).

The Board of Education will continue a “125 Plan” to administer an “opt-out” program. Employees with alternate health insurance may opt out of the Board of Education health insurance and/or prescription coverage and receive an annual payment of $3,000 for opting out of medical insurance and $500 for opting out of prescription coverage. Payments shall be made in two installments, one in December and one in June. When an employee opts in or out of medical or prescription coverage during the course of the school year based upon a life altering event, the opt out payment will be pro-rated.
During 2007/2008 contract year the Board of Education will be entitled to the difference between cost of insurance and the “opt out” payment for the first ten (10) employees who opt out. For each employee over ten (10) opting out, the Association and Board of Education with split the remainder (the difference between cost of insurance and the “opt out” payment) 50/50. The Association’s portion of this savings will be added to the pool of money used to fund insurance for all employees.

During 2008/2009 contract year the Board of Education will be entitled to the difference between cost of insurance and the “opt out” payment for the first ten (10) employees who opt out. For each employee over ten (10) opting out, the Association and Board of Education will split the remainder 50/50. The Association’s portion of this savings will be added to the pool of money used to fund insurance for all employees.

During 2009/2010 contract year the Board of Education will be entitled to the difference between cost of insurance and the “opt out” payment for the first ten (10) employees who opt out. For each employee over ten (10) opting out, the Association and Board of Education will split the remainder 50/50. The Association’s portion of this savings will be added to the pool of money used to fund insurance for all employees.

Generic Brand

7/1/07 – 12/31/07 $10.00 $15.00

1/1/08 – 6/30/08 $12.50 $25.00

7/1/09 – 6/30/10 $15.00 $25.00

1. Each member will continue in his or her current tier level of coverage for the duration of the contract unless a “life-altering event” or a change in opt-out status occurs. 2. Any funds available from the aggregate Board of Education contribution will be applied to the cost of dependent prescription coverage.

D. The Board shall continue to provide a full employee dental plan. Any change in coverage or carrier is negotiable with a minimum annual cap of $1,500.

E. The Board of Education has the right to change health carriers, continuing to provide benefits equal to or better than those currently provided.

F. Any employee working in the district prior to July 1, 2002 for 20 or more hours per week and continues to work 20 or more hours per week, will be entitled to health benefits consistent with the rights of a full time employee. Any employee hired after July 1, 2002, working more than 25 hours per week, will be entitled to health benefits consistent with the rights of a full-time employee. Any employee currently working 25 hours and receiving health benefits will be entitled to continue receiving health benefits as long as they continue to work 25 hours or more per week.
ARTICLE XVII - REPRESENTATION FEE

A. PURPOSE OF FEE:

If an employee does not become a member of the Association during any membership year (i.e. from September 1^st to the following August 31st), which is covered in whole or in part by this Agreement, said employee will be required to pay a representation fee to the Association for that membership year. The purpose of this fee will be to offset the employee's per capita cost of services rendered by the Association as majority representative.

Prior to the beginning of each membership year, the Association will notify the Board, in writing, of the amount of the regular membership dues, initiation fees, and assessments charged by the Association to its own members for that membership year. The representation fee to be paid by non-members will be determined by the Association, in accordance

In order to adequately offset the per capita costs of services rendered by the Association as majority representative, the representation fee should be equal in amount to the regular membership dues, initiation fees, and assessments charged by the Association to its own members, and the
representation fee may be set up to eighty-five percent (85%) of that amount as the maximum presently allowed by law. If the law is changed in this regard, the amount of the representation fee automatically will be increased to the maximum allowed, said increase to become effective as of the beginning of the Association membership year immediately following the effective date of the change.

Indemnification:

The association shall indemnify and hold the Board harmless against any and all claims, demands, suits and other forms of liability, including liability for reasonable counsel fees and other legal costs and expenses, that may arise out of, or by reason of, any action taken or not taken by the Board in conformance with this provision.

Once during each membership year, covered in whole or in part by this Agreement, the Association will submit to the Board a list of those employees who have not become members of the Association for the then current membership year. The Board will deduct from the salaries of such employees, in accordance with Paragraph 2. below, the full amount of the representation fee, and promptly will transmit the amount so deducted to the Association.

The Board will deduct the representation fee in equal installments, as nearly as possible, from the pay checks paid to each employee on the aforesaid list during the remainder of the membership year in question. The deduction will begin with the first pay check paid:

b. thirty (30) days after the employee begins his/her employment in a bargaining unit position, unless the employee previously served in a bargaining unit position, and continued in the employee of the Board in a non-bargaining unit position, or was on layoff, in which event, the deductions will begin with the first pay check paid ten (10) days after the resumption of the employee's employment in a bargaining unit position, whichever is later.

3. Termination of Employment:

If an employee, who is required to pay a representation fee, terminates his/her employment with the Board before the Association has received the full amount of the representation fee, to which it is entitled under this Article, the Board will deduct the unpaid portion of the fee from the
last pay check paid to said employee during the membership year in question.

Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the mechanics of the deduction of representation fees, and the transmission of such fees to the Association, will, as nearly as possible, be the same as those used for the deduction and transmission of regular membership dues to the Association.

The Association will notify the Board, in writing, of any changes in the list provided for in Paragraph 1. above, and/or the amount of the representation fee, and such changes will be reflected in any deduction made more than ten (10) days after the Board receives said notice.

On or about the last day of each month, beginning with the month this Agreement becomes effective, the Board will submit to the Association a list of all employees who began their employment in a bargaining unit position during the preceding thirty (30) day period. The list will include names, job title, and dates of employment for all such employees.

12 Month 10 Month 10 Month
Secretary Secretary Clerk