A. Except as limited by the provisions of this Agreement, the Board of Education reserves all rights and functions vested in it pursuant to applicable laws and regulations and all other functions as are normally and customarily exercised by the Board of Education in the management of the affairs of the school district.

A. The Board hereby recognizes the Association as the exclusive representative for collective negotiations concerning the terms and conditions of employment for certified personnel under contract and on leave, including:

B. Unless otherwise indicated, the term "employee" when used hereinafter in this Agreement, shall refer to all employees represented by the Association in the negotiating unit as above defined, and reference to employees shall be deemed to include both the male and female, except when the context clearly limits the intent to one sex, and words used in the singular shall include words in the plural as the text so requires.

A. The parties agree to enter into collective negotiations over a successor agreement in accordance with Chapter 123 Public Laws of 1974, in good faith. Any agreement so negotiated shall apply to all employees, be reduced to writing, be adopted by the Association and the Board and signed by the Association and the Board.

B. At no time during the course of this agreement shall either side attempt to influence who shall represent the other side in the negotiations process. Any attempt by the other party to influence the election of representatives or the working process of negotiations shall constitute a violation of this article.

C. This agreement shall not be modified in whole or in part by the parties except by an instrument in writing duly executed by both parties.

Pursuant to Chapter 123, Public Laws of 1974, the Board hereby agrees that employees shall be protected in the exercise of the right, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal from person or persons, group or groups to join, form, and assist any employee organization in a legal matter, grievance procedures and negotiations or to refrain from any such activity.

Constructive criticism of the schools is welcome through whatever medium when it is motivated by a sincere desire to improve the quality of the educational program. Any criticism by a supervisor, administrator, or Board member of a teacher's instructional methodology or any question or criticism by a teacher or Association representative of a supervisor, administrator or Board member of his instructional philosophy or method of administration or supervision shall be made in confidence and not in the presence of students, parents, named teacher(s), or at public gatherings insofar as such is legally possible. In the case of educational support personnel, the same standard shall apply to their performance of duty.

C. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deny or restrict any employee or the Board such rights as each may have under New Jersey School Laws or other applicable laws and regulations.

D. Whenever any employee is required to appear before an administrator, supervisor, the board or any committee thereof concerning any matter which could adversely affect the continuation of that employee in his office, position, or employment or the salary or any increments pertaining thereto, then the employee shall be given prior written notice of the reasons for such meeting or interview and shall be entitled to have a representative of the Association present to advise him/her and represent him/her during such meeting or interview.

E. 1. No employee recognized by this agreement shall be reprimanded, disciplined, reduced in rank or compensation, or deprived of any professional advantage without just cause. A formal written reprimand, which is intended to be utilized as a disciplinary action, is included with the term 'disciplined' as used in this paragraph. No tenured employee shall be discharged without just cause. Any such action asserted by the Board, or any agency or representative thereof, shall be subject to the grievance procedure, except that the issue of a tenured employee's discharge shall be subject to the procedures set forth in New Jersey Statutes, Title 18A only.

2. Any reduction in force for the custodial staff will be based strictly on seniority by job title. Any reduction in force for the clerical/secretarial staff tenured in their positions will be based strictly on seniority by job title.

F. The teacher shall maintain the right to determine grades within the grading policy of the Medford Township School District based upon his professional judgment of objective data and of available criteria pertinent to any given subject area or activity to which he/she is responsible. No grades shall be changed without prior consultation and agreement between the building principal and the teacher and if such agreement cannot be reached, the matter shall be referred to the Superintendent for final determination.

G. Personnel Records

A. The association is extended the privilege of having available to it such Board of Education information as is available to the public at large at such times as it is made public.

B. Whenever any representative of the Association or any employee is mutually scheduled by the parties to participate during working hours in negotiations, grievance proceedings, conferences relating to negotiations or grievances, or meeting, relating to negotiations or grievances, he or she shall suffer no loss in pay and/or benefits.

C. The Association is granted the privilege of using school buildings for Association business, provided application for such use is made according to Board of Education policy and no costs shall accrue to the Board of Education as a result of such use and further provided that the building and facility within the building has not been previously scheduled.

D. The Association is granted the privilege of using for Association business, Board of Education equipment that is normally found in a school office and provided the item of equipment is not otherwise in use. The Association is further granted the privilege of using Technology equipment for Association business provided the item is not otherwise in use. All requests for use of equipment identified in these paragraphs shall be made to the respective building principal who will not deny the request on other than reasonable grounds. In the event a cost accrues to the Board of Education as a result of use by the Association, the Association shall pay an equitable portion of the cost.

E. The Association shall be permitted to hold building level meetings outside of the student day provided such meeting does not interfere with school business. Meetings will be arranged with the building principal and the A. R.

A. Definition

1. A grievance shall mean a claim by a grievant that a loss or injury has occurred as a result of the misinterpretation or misapplication of the terms of this Agreement, and shall be subject to binding arbitration. A claim by a grievant that a loss or injury has occurred as a result of the misinterpretation or misapplication of an existing Board rule, policy, practice or administrative decision as these affect terms and conditions of employment shall be subject to advisory arbitration.

2. A grievance to be considered under this procedure must be initiated by the employee group of employees within thirty (30) working days from the time the grievant knew or should reasonably have known.

3. An aggrieved person is the person or persons making the claim.

Any employee who decides either alone or with the assistance of the Association that he has a grievance shall discuss it with his immediate superior or principal in an attempt to resolve the matter informally at that level. An oral decision shall be rendered within seven (7) work days of this discussion. All grievances that involve salary, monetary compensation or the Superintendent's administrative decisions may begin at level three of the grievance procedure.

C. LEVEL TWO

If as a result of the discussion in Level One the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the employee within seven (7) working days of such discussion, the employee shall set forth his/her grievance in writing to his principal or other immediate superior, specifying:

a. The nature of the grievance and date occurred.
b. The results of the previous discussions.
c. His/her dissatisfaction with decisions previously rendered.
d. Relief sought.

The principal or immediate superior shall communicate his/her decision, to the aggrieved and his/her representative, in writing within seven (7) working days of receipt of the written grievance.

D. LEVEL THREE

The employee, no later than seven (7) working days after receipt of the principal's or immediate superior's decision, may appeal the principal's or immediate superior's decision to the Superintendent of Schools. The appeal to the Superintendent must be made in writing, reciting the matter submitted to the principal or immediate superior as specified above and the employee's dissatisfaction with decisions previously rendered. Within ten (10) working days from receipt of the written grievance the Superintendent shall hold a meeting with the grievant at which all parties in interest shall have the right to be heard. The Superintendent shall attempt to resolve the matter as quickly as possible, but within a period not to exceed fifteen (15) working days, the Superintendent shall communicate his decision in writing to the employee, the principal or immediate superior, and the Association.

E. LEVEL FOUR

If the grievant is dissatisfied with the decision of the Superintendent, he or she, no later than seven (7) working days after receipt of the Superintendent's decision, may appeal the decision to the Board of Education's Employee Relations Committee.
The appeal shall be submitted in writing through the Superintendent of Schools, who shall attach all related papers and forward the request within five (5) working days to the Board of Education. The Board shall review the grievance and shall, at the option of the Board or upon request of the employee, hold a hearing with the employee and render a decision in writing within thirty (30) working days of the date of the hearing with the employee.


F. LEVEL FIVE - Arbitration:

If the employee is dissatisfied with the decision of the Board of Education and if the grievance pertains to a violation of this Agreement between the Board of Education and the Association, the employee or Association may request the appointment of an arbitrator, such request to be made known to the Superintendent no later than fifteen (15) working days after the decision, in writing, of the Board of Education.
All arbitration shall be conducted pursuant to the rules and regulations established by the Public Employment Relations Commission under the provisions of Chapter 303, P.L. 1968.

G. COST OF ARBITRATION:

Each party shall bear the total cost incurred by itself. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator are the only costs which shall be shared by the two parties and such costs will be shared equally. Whenever, by mutual agreement of the parties, any representative of the Association or any teacher participates in grievance proceedings during working hours, he shall suffer no loss in pay.

A. As professionals, teachers are expected to devote to their assignments the time necessary to meet their responsibilities, but they shall not be required to "Clock in or clock out". Teachers shall indicate their presence for duty placing a check mark in the appropriate column of the faculty "sign-in, sign-out roster". Clerks and secretaries shall follow the same procedures.

B. On Fridays or on days preceding holidays, the teachers’ day shall end at the close of the pupils’ day, except for those teachers required for special duty.

C. 1. The teachers work day shall not exceed seven (7) hours and fifteen (15) minutes.

2. Pupil instructional day shall be 6 hours and 15 minutes.

3. The teacher work day shall include 6 hours and 15 minutes of pupil instruction less lunch and prep.

D. Notice and Agenda:

The notice for any meeting shall be given to the teachers involved as early as feasible prior to the meeting. Teachers shall have the opportunity to suggest items for faculty meeting agendas.

E. 1. Teachers shall have a daily duty-free lunch period of at least forty (40) minutes in length. Teachers may leave the building without requesting permission during the scheduled duty-free lunch periods, but are required to notify the Main Office when they are leaving the building. Failure of a teacher to be at the assigned duty and/or teaching station immediately following the duty-free lunch may constitute grounds for disciplinary action. All part time employees (less than 29.5 hours/week that work a minimum of five hours per day may be entitled to a thirty (30) minute duty free, unpaid lunch period/break.

2. Preparation Periods for Teachers - Teachers shall have five preparation periods per week of no less than 30 minutes. Administrative meetings, team meetings, parent conferences and similar professional activities will continue to be legitimate uses of this time. If a teacher is required to teach another class compensatory time shall be provided at a mutually agreed time.

F. 1. The in-school work year for teachers covered by this Agreement shall not exceed 185 days for 2012-2015 except for new personnel who may be required to attend additional orientation days. Through the duration of this agreement, one (1) Flexible Teacher Day (7 Hours) will be added to the teacher work year (186 days). The teacher day may be utilized to accrue professional development hours toward the state mandated 100 hour requirement. It is intended to support articulation, curriculum development and/or professional development in an individual or group setting.

All teacher hours for the 186^th day must be:

● pre-approved by the building principal or provided by a recognized state professional development provider or approved for tuition reimbursement
● accrued in hourly increments
● accrued outside of the paid teacher workday (may be accrued on weekends)
● is subject to all existing Contract/Policy provisions in effect
● accrued by May 15^th of each year unless otherwise approved by the building administrator. Teachers not accruing the seven (7) total hours by May 15^th will be required to attend a full day (7 hours) staff development program provided by the district immediately following the teacher record day

2. Parent/Teacher Conferences: The Board of Education shall have the ability to designate one (1) of the three (3) Parent/Teacher conference dates as an evening conference, for two (2) hours, between the hours of 6 PM–8 PM or 7 PM-9 PM. A letter from the Administration designating all conference hours at each school shall be provided to the staff and district parents.

3. The in-school work year for clerks covered by this Agreement shall not exceed 180 days. If clerks are required to come in for additional days, they shall be paid a prorated amount for such additional days.

4. All custodial staff shall be entitled to paid holidays as listed below. In the event schools are in session on a listed holiday, the employee shall be entitled to a day in lieu of which shall be scheduled with the employee's supervisor.

Granting of any holiday in addition to the official days listed previously, or substitution of any other holiday for those listed shall be done only with proper prior approval of the Board of Education.

In the event the schools are scheduled to be closed for observance of a non-listed religious holiday, then that day shall be considered as an additional paid holiday.

G. In the event that regular substitutes are not available, regular teachers who volunteer may be used as substitutes during their non-teaching time. In the absence of volunteers, a teacher may be assigned to serve as a substitute. If a teacher, or teachers, volunteer for or are assigned an additional class (classes) for an entire day due to a lack of substitutes, that teacher (teachers) will share $100 for the day for coverage provided in addition to the regularly scheduled assignments for that day.

H. All full-time secretaries (12 months) shall work eight hours per day including 60 minutes uninterrupted lunch hour. Hours to be set by the Board of Education. If a secretary, because of work responsibilities, is not able to take the allowed 60 minutes lunch break, the secretary's work day shall end 60 minutes earlier. Summer work hours for secretaries shall be seven (7) hours per day inclusive of a sixty (60) minute lunch beginning the day after the last teacher day in June and ending the first teacher day in September.

I. On Fridays, secretaries shall be excused from duty fifteen (15) minutes prior to their normal contracted time, with no loss of pay. However, principals may request, due to extenuating circumstances, that the secretary remain for the duration of their contracted time. Under this circumstance, a secretary would be provided with compensation time on a mutually agreed upon day/time. On days prior to holidays, secretaries shall be excused from duty thirty (30) minutes prior to their normal quitting time, with no loss of pay.

J. Secretaries' overtime is defined to mean any directed time spent at one's regular or assigned duties either before or after regular daily work hours or on days other than those in the regular work week or regular year. Overtime work shall be voluntary and based upon mutual agreement of the employee and the immediate supervisor. Overtime work shall be rounded to the nearest one-half hour. Overtime may be taken as compensatory leave at such times as shall be approved by the employee's immediate supervisor or in wages based in either case on "time plus one-half".

The regular work year for twelve month secretaries shall be:

(a) All days contained in the teachers' work year; and

(b) All weekdays in June and September when school is closed to both students and teachers (except Labor Day).
including all week days in July and August with the exception of the Fourth of July.

The secretaries' regular work week shall be as is set forth in Article VII, Subsection H.

Secretaries' "hourly rate" shall be determined first by calculating per diem rate as is set forth in Article XXVI and then dividing the per diem rate by 8 in accordance with the eight hour work day requirement set forth in Article VII (H).

"Time and one-half" shall be defined as each secretary's hourly rate (as defined above) multiplied by a factor of 1.5.

In the event that a secretary works on a holiday as defined by the school calendar, or on a day when schools are closed to both students and teachers, then that secretary shall be entitled to be compensated at the rate of "time and one-half" for such services. The "time and one-half" rate shall be paid notwithstanding the fact that the secretary's base rate of pay includes payment for the holiday set forth on the school calendar.


Provided however, if a secretary initiates a request to work hours either before or after the regular work day, or on a day when school is closed to both students and teachers in exchange for time off at some future date, and if this request is granted by the school administration, then the secretary so requesting the time off shall be compensated at her normal hourly rate (instead of time and one-half) for the time actually worked and the secretary shall be entitled to the requested time off. All requests for "comp time" in accordance with this paragraph shall be made by the secretary to the Superintendent, in writing.

K. Support Staff who work in excess of 40 hours per week shall be compensated at the rate of time and one-half.

In the event that a support staff employee works on a holiday as defined by the school calendar then that person shall be entitled to be compensated at the rate of "time and one-half" for such services. The "time and one-half" rate shall be paid notwithstanding the fact that the support staff employee's base rate of pay includes payment for the holiday set forth on the school calendar.

Provided however, if a support staff employee or supervisor initiates a request to work during a holiday in exchange for time off at some future date, and the parties agree, then
the employee shall be compensated at the normal hourly rate (instead of time and one-half) for the time actually worked and the employee shall be entitled to the requested time off.

Custodians and mechanics who work on Saturday shall be compensated at the rate of time and one-half. Support staff who work on Sundays shall be compensated at double time.

L. Clerks and supplementary teachers may work up to twenty-nine and one half (29.5) hours with no provision for health benefits. Bus drivers currently receiving benefits will not be affected by this provision and will not be reduced in hours and/or benefits.

A. ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Notification:

Teachers will be given written notice of their salary, tentative grade and/or subject assignment for the forthcoming contract year as soon as feasible by the Administration, but in no event later than the first week in June.

2. Revisions:

In the event that changes in such schedules, grade and/or subject assignments, and/or building assignments are made after the initial notification, the teachers affected shall be notified of such changes in writing within fifteen (15) calendar days by certified mail to the last known address of the teacher.





B. EXPENSES:

1. Reimbursement:
Employees who are authorized in writing to use their own automobiles in the performance of their duties and teachers who are assigned to more than one (1) school per day shall be reimbursed for all such travel at the IRS rate ($.31) per mile for all authorized driving done after arrival at the first location at the beginning of their workday. If a higher rate is established by the School Board during this contract period, then such higher rate shall prevail.

All monitoring or observation of the work performance of a teacher shall be conducted openly and with full knowledge of the teacher.

A teacher shall be given a copy of all evaluation reports prepared by his/her evaluators within ten (10) school days. No teacher shall be required to sign a blank evaluation form. The teacher evaluated shall be permitted to attach commentary to this evaluation prior to the time it is filed. Such response will be filed with the evaluation.

Evaluation reports shall be presented to each teacher by his/her immediate superior in accordance with the following procedures:

(3) Specific suggestions as to measures which the teacher might take to improve his/her performance in each of the areas wherein weaknesses have been indicated, and a specific time frame in which these weaknesses will be improved.

(4) Improvements noted since the previous evaluation.

2. Each member shall be evaluated once per year. New employees shall not be evaluated until after 60 days on the job.

3. The evaluation and follow-up conference will be conducted by the building supervisor or the member's immediate supervisor.

4. The original copy of the evaluation shall be given to the member, with copies to the principal and superintendent.

5. The evaluation of job performance shall be based on the job description. The report will be filed in the member's personnel file.

On or before May 15^th of each year, the Board shall give to each nontenured teacher, continuously employed since the preceding September 30, either:

1. A written offer of a contract for employment for the next succeeding year; or
2. A written notice that such employment shall not be offered.

Any nontenure teacher who receives a notice of nonemployment may within ten (10) calendar days thereafter, in writing, request a statement of reasons for such nonemployment from the Superintendent, which statement shall be given to the teacher in writing within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of such request.

Any nontenure full-time teacher shall be entitled to an informal hearing before the Board subsequent to the meeting with the Superintendent, provided a written request for the informal hearing is received by the Secretary of the Board within ten (10) calendar days after the meeting with the Superintendent, accompanied by a written statement of the teacher's reasons why the Board should reconsider its determination not to offer reemployment to the teacher.

The Board will schedule a private, informal hearing within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the request by its Secretary.

The informal appearance before the Board is not an adversarial proceeding; it will be private; the teacher may be represented by counsel or an individual of his own choice before the board and may present witnesses; witnesses need not present testimony under oath and will not be subject to cross-examination; witnesses will be called individually and excused after making their statements.

The Board shall issue its written determination as to the employment or nonemployment of said nontenure full-time teacher for the next succeeding school year within ten (10) calendar days after the completion of the informal hearing.

Complaints made to a member of the administration by any parent, student or other person which may adversely influence the evaluation of an employee will be regarded with concern by the Administration then and in that event, the principal or immediate supervisor shall meet with the employee to apprise the employee of the full nature of the complaint and an attempt shall be made to correct and/or resolve the matter immediately.

3. Posting: As soon as practicable, and no later than June 1, the Superintendent shall post in each school and deliver to the Association a system-wide schedule showing the names of all teachers who have been reassigned or transferred and the nature of such reassignment or transfer.

If an employee is absent on sick leave for three (3) consecutive work days or more, or on the day before and after a day(s) school is not in session, a doctor's certificate shall be required. For teachers a deduction of 1/200th of an employee's annual salary shall be made for each day of unexcused absence if a doctor's certification is not furnished. Three (3) consecutive days or more of absences certified by a physician as related to the employee’s confinement and subsequent delivery of the child will be construed as maternity/childrearing leave and are subject to the provisions of Article XVI, Section B, 4. h. Secretaries see Article XXVII for deductions.

B. 1. Ten month employees shall be entitled to ten (10) sick leave days each school year. All twelve (12) month employees shall be entitled to (12) days of paid sick leave in each work year. Unused sick leave days shall be accumulated from year to year with no maximum limit.

E. 1. Upon retirement from the District, and actual commencement of the payment of a pension by the Division of Pensions unless otherwise notified by the employee in writing by June 1^st, the Board shall pay the retiring teacher and CST severance pay calculated at 50% of per diem rate per day and all support staff 50% per diem rate per day for the duration of this contract for each day of unused sick leave as of the effective date of retirement. Payment shall be made on August 15 or January 15 following the close of the fiscal year in which they retire. A fund in the amount of $139,150.00 shall exist for the each contract year during the 2012-2015 contract. If the amount to be paid out exceeds the budget, then it shall be prorated among the recipients. In the event that sufficient funds are not available to pay the full amount of the entitlement to a given year's retirees, those retirees shall be entitled to extend their respective entitlement to a maximum of two (2) years beyond the initial year of entitlement. This shall occur by making available to them any funds not used by a subsequent year's retirees. All eligible prior retirees shall be paid on a pro rata basis. This entitlement shall be limited to three (3) years total of entitlement until they have received the full 50% of per diem rate per day for certificated staff and 50% of per diem rate per day for support staff unless the full entitlement is paid out prior to the end of that time.

1. The Bank was initially created during the contract term July 1, 1992 through June 30, 1995. The parties hereby agree to extend the Bank through the present contract term, subject to the modifications contained in the present agreement.

d. If the recommendation is for rejection, the employee may appeal immediately to the Board of Education for review.

Employees shall be entitled to the following temporary non-accumulative leaves of absence with full pay.

1. Contracted personnel shall be entitled to four (4) personal business leave days per year. These days are to be requested at least three (3) days in advance, except in cases of emergency. All requests for personal business leave days after the first week of school and before the last week of school and/or the two (2) days before or after a school holiday are to be made to the employee’s direct supervisor. Upon application for personal business days in this instance, reasons for the request shall not be required. Taking these days shall not in any way affect the number of designated employee sick leave days.

Up to three (3) unused personal leave days per year shall accumulate as sick days and be added to the employee's accumulated sick leave if they are not used.

2. Employees may submit, without reason, to the superintendent for the utilization of a personal day during the first and last week of school and during the day just prior to a school holiday or the day just after a school holiday. Two (2) or more personal days are not permitted to pyramid with any school holiday and/or during the first and last week of school. No more than twenty (20) requests for the utilization of a personal day, with pay, during the first and last week of school and in conjunction with any given holiday shall be granted. A second request under this provision will be considered after priority has been given to first time requests.

3. Personal business leave days may be taken in case of emergency at any time subject to the approval of the Superintendent. Disputes over what constitutes an emergency shall be determined by the grievance procedure.

4. For those employees that were previously granted permission to utilize (1) of their four (4) personal days during the first week of school and/or the last week of school and/or the one (1) day before or after a school holiday, and request the utilization of an additional personal day(s) under the provisions stated above, must submit a request to the superintendent stating one of the following reasons listed below involving the employee and members of the immediate family including spouse, parents, children, resident relatives, and significant other(s). All other reasons will be unpaid leave.

The Superintendent shall grant exceptions for personal business leave just before or after a holiday or during the first or last weeks of the school year for the following listed reasons involving the employee and members of the immediate family including: spouse, parents, children, resident relatives, and significant others. All reasons involving other people will be unpaid leave.

5. No more than ten (10) requests for such personal business days shall be granted with pay on any given holiday unless the Superintendent deems additional days are warranted. Documentation shall be supplied by the employee for use of this clause as stated in section four (4) above.

In the case of each death of a member of the immediate family (immediate family as here used means spouse, parents, brothers, sisters, own children, step-children, grandparents, children’s parents and grandparents, corresponding in-laws, significant others, and other persons residing in the home of any employee) such employee shall be excused without loss of pay for a period not to exceed five consecutive working days, which shall start no earlier than the day of the death and no later than the day of the funeral/memorial service. All days allowed under this ruling will be in addition to any sick leave. On the death of a staff member, the school may be closed for the session of the funeral on the approval of the Superintendent or his representative.

Professional days and other leaves of absence with or without pay may be granted upon recommendation of the Superintendent and approval of the Board.

All employees shall be entitled to one (1) “Family Illness Day” per contract year. Family Illness Days may be utilized where an employee’s personal presence is preferred because of an illness of a parent, a spouse, a child, a significant other or other persons residing in the employee’s residence. An informal explanation identifying the family member and the nature of his/her illness will be provided on the Employee Absence Form. Unused Family Illness Days shall not be added to accumulated sick leave.

The Board shall honor the dates requested for the periods of actual medical disability. The employee may use accumulated sick leave, if any, for any period of actual medical disability. The periods of actual medical disability shall be certified to in writing by a qualified physician.

An emergent medical leave arises when the employee suffers a medical disability that was:

Examples of medical conditions that qualify for emergent medical leave are heart attacks; disabling injuries; and cancer related treatment. These examples are intended to illustrate rather than to provide an exhaustive list of medical conditions that qualify for "emergent medical leave".

Examples of anticipated medical leave of absence are disability associated with pregnancy, laminectomy; orchiectomy; prostatectomy; and elective surgery. These examples are intended to illustrate rather than to provide an exhaustive list of medical conditions that qualify for anticipated medical leave".

Emergent family leave arises in the case of a serious illness of a member of the employee's immediate family. Immediate family is defined as the employee's spouse, parent(s), children, siblings, corresponding in-laws, and other persons residing in the home of the employee. At the time of giving notice of the leave, the employee may elect to have the leave extended for the remainder of the year in which it is commenced. The leave is limited to a duration of a maximum of one year, inclusive of Family Medical Leave.

Presumed disability is considered up to four weeks prior to the birth and four weeks after the birth of a child. The determination of whether or not an employee is physically able to return to work will be by the employee’s own doctor. The Board may, however, require that she be examined by a doctor of its choice.

1. Pregnant employees shall present a certificate from their attending physician regarding the anticipated dates of disability at the time the request for extended leave of absence is made.

2. Upon expiration of the period of disability, the employee shall either return to work, or begin her Board approve childrearing leave in accordance with the terms of this agreement.

The pregnant employee's physician and a physician designated by the Board agree that she is not medically able to perform her duties; or

i. No pay, sick leave, insurance benefits or other financial contribution shall be made to a teacher during childrearing leave, except as may be required by the New Jersey Family Leave Act or the Federal Medical and Family Leave Law.

j. In the event that a employee’s pregnancy terminates prior to the expiration of the leave which has been granted, or prior to the inception of the leave which may have been requested, said employee may apply for early reinstatement by filing a written request therefore with the Superintendent accompanied by a physician’s certification that she is medically able to resume or continue to perform her duties. The Board shall grant such a request if it has not contractually obligated itself to employ a replacement for the teacher in question during the period for which leave had been originally requested or granted and if such request can be fulfilled without substantially interfering with the effective administration of the educational program to which the employee in question was assigned and seeks to be reinstated.

k. The Board of Education and the Superintendent do not guarantee the assignment of employees the same buildings or same assignment they held prior to the leave of absence.

C. PROVISIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE

The following pertains to all categories of leave in Article XVI, A, unless otherwise specified:

1. Time for Request - All requests for leaves of absence, other than for emergent medical leave and for emergent family leave, shall be made not less than sixty (60) days in advance of the date on which the leave is to commence. The request for leave of absence shall specify the proposed return date.

2. Standard/Educational Programs - Both the Medford Township Board of Education and the MEA recognized that the education of students is the primary function of the Board of Education. Further, both parties recognize that continuity of instruction is a worthy goal. Requests for leaves of absence, except for emergent medical and family reasons, will be reviewed with attainment of education continuity as a paramount objective. Towards this end the parties agree to the following standards and agreements:

a. The Board shall honor the dates requested for periods of actual medical disability. The periods of actual medical disability shall be certified by a qualified physician.

b. The Board shall endeavor to honor leave dates requested as they relate to Emergent Family Leave. However, the Board shall have the right to modify requested leave dates in order to accord with the objective of education continuity. The Board of Education may grant, reduce or extend the requested leave of absence dates to coincide with commencement and termination of school marking periods and/or parent-teacher conference dates. Federal Medical Leave Act requests shall conform with the law.

c. No request for extended leave of absence, other than for emergent medical reasons and emergent family leave, shall be granted if the initial leave date is within twenty-five working days of the commencement of the school year. If an employee requests an extended leave of absence that is to commence within twenty-five working days of the commencement of the school year, the Board of Education shall be authorized to amend the starting date of the leave of absence to the commencement of the school year. In this event, the employee so affected will not be entitled to receive salary or other benefits (i.e. sick leave, personal days, educational benefits and any other applicable prerequisites of employment) for the period between the commencement of the school year and the date the employee has requested as the commencement of the extended leave of absence. This provision is intended to apply to instructional employees only.

B. WITHHOLDING INCREMENTS: CAUSES: NOTICE OF APPEALS:

Withholding of increments will be conducted in accordance with the amendments to the PERC Law, Chapter 269, P.L. of 1989.

Any Board of Education may withhold, for inefficiency or other good cause, the employment increment, or the adjustment increment, or both, of any member in any year by a recorded roll call majority vote of the full membership of the Board of Education. It shall be the duty of the Board of Education, within ten (10) days, to give written notice of such action, together with the reason therefore, to the member concerned. The member may appeal from such action to the Commissioner under rules prescribed by him. The Commissioner shall consider such appeal and shall either affirm the action of the Board of Education or direct that the increment or increments be paid. The Commissioner may designate an assistant Commissioner of Education to act for him in his place and with his powers on such appeals. It shall not be mandatory upon the Board of Education to pay any such denied increment in any future year as an adjustment increment.

C. In cases where an employment increment and/or adjustment increment may be withheld from a teacher, a warning notice of deficiencies in performance and/or any other applicable reasons for such withholding of an employment increment and/or adjustment increment shall be given to the said teacher by February 1 of the school year preceding each school year in which the employment increment and/or adjustment increment is to be withheld. The said teacher shall be notified of the intent to withhold employment increment and/or adjustment increment by the April 1st following the issuance of the warning notice. The Board additionally reserves its rights under N.J.S.A. 18A:29.15.

D. PRIOR EXPERIENCE
1. Each employee shall be placed on the proper step of the salary schedule as of the beginning of the school year.

2. Newly hired support staff will be given full credit for all related work experience up to 5 years.

3. Military service credit for all employees will be applicable service time to a maximum of four (4) years.

4. The Board agrees that it shall not hire new employees at rates higher than existing employees with comparable experience.

5. All new Child Study Team members will be paid on the teachers’ guide. All additional work beyond 7 hours 15 minutes and 185 days shall become a prorated amount of their salary. The 185 days includes all half days when the teachers may leave early.

E. Any employee employed prior to February 1 of any school year shall be given full credit for one (1) year of service toward the next increment step for the following year. Any employee employed after February 1 shall not be given credit.

F. DANCES

1. Employees who chaperone dances will be compensated at the following rate:

Years 2012-2015 $80.00 per dance

G. SUPERVISORY and PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

1. SUPERVISORY ACTIVITIES

The hourly rate for supervisory activities over and above the regular duties of the teacher, such as additional bus duty, cafeteria duty, or playground supervision, shall be at the following rates.

Required after school or evening supervisory activities shall be deemed to include evening concerts.

a. The hourly rate for professional activities over and above the normally expected duties of the teacher, such as summer school, curriculum writing, and bedside teaching/study, and shall be at the following rates.

b. The hourly rate for Summer Staff Development activities in which teachers may volunteer shall be at the following rates:

Years 2012-2015 $29.00 per hour

1. After School Activities

Teachers accepting assignments by a principal for reasons of student safety will receive the supervisory rate for evening functions. Teachers who volunteer will not receive compensation.

The Music Teacher (instrumental and vocal) and Art Teacher shall be paid at the following rates:

K. SEVENTH PERIOD TEACHING

Any teacher who is required to teach seven (7) instructional periods per day in the 2012-2015 school years, shall receive additional compensation. This shall be calculated by multiplying the supplemental rate of pay by a forty minute teaching period per day. In a school year of 180 days, this would be 120 hours of additional teaching time. All teachers who teach the seventh period shall be paid at the highest step on the guide for supplemental teachers.

A total of ten (10) days per year will be available to be shared among the Executive Board and Chairpersons. All days are subject to approval of the MEA President, and final approval of the Superintendent. MEA will pay for substitutes.

Longevity increments will be paid to employees covered by this Agreement who have maintained continuous employment with Medford Township Board of Education for the following periods:

All staff presently earning longevity will continue to receive the current amount until the next step on the new longevity schedule is reached.

Certified Staff employed before July 1, 2012

$3,000 after 15 years
$3,500 after 20 years
$4,000 after 25 years
$4,500 after 30 years




Certified Staff employed on or after July 1, 2012

$3,000 after 20 years
$3,500 after 25 years
$4,000 after 30 years

Support Staff employed before July 1, 2012

$1,500 after 15 years
$1,750 after 20 years
$2,000 after 25 years
$2,500 after 30 years

Support Staff employed on or after July 1, 2012

$1,500 after 20 years
$1,750 after 25 years
$2,000 after 30 years

Board approved certificated teaching staff that participate in summer staff development opportunities provided/sponsored by the district on site will be compensated at the following rates:

Years 2012-2015 $29.00 per hour

Effective July 1, 2012, the base health/medical plan for all Medford Township School employees eligible for benefits will be the HIF (DA 8) Plan provided for by Aetna/Amerihealth.

All current employees enrolled in the HIF (DA 8) Plan, and/or new employees hired on or after July 1, 2012 shall receive the HIF (DA 8) Plan, provided 100% by the Board of Education at no additional cost to the employee (excluding any contribution required under State Law). If any of these employees so choose to enroll in the HIF (DA 9) Plan, said employee(s) must pay the full difference between the base cost of the HIF (DA 8) Plan offered by the Medford Board of Education and the base cost of the HIF (DA 9) Plan, as chosen.

All currently enrolled employees in the HIF (DA 9) Plan shall continue to receive the HIF (DA 9) Plan at no additional cost to the employee (excluding any contribution required under State Law).

Any employee currently enrolled in the HIF (DA 9) Plan who leaves said plan, shall lose the ability to re-enroll in the HIF (DA 9) Plan at no additional cost to the employee.

The Board shall provide a prescription insurance plan for each eligible employee and dependents. The Board shall pay 100% of the premium for single and dependents coverage for current eligible employees (excluding any contribution required under State Law). New hires would receive individual coverage only for the first two (2) full years of employment. Their eligibility will increase to two (2) party coverage only for the third full year of employment, and full family coverage in the years thereafter. Requests for coverage increases shall be made at the open enrollment period immediately preceding the employee’s anniversary date of service in the district. Such requests will take effect at the commencement of corresponding service year for said employee.



Beginning July 1, 2012 the following co-pays will be in effect:

Mail Order Retail Pharmacy
Generic/Preferred/Non-Preferred Generic/Preferred/Non-Preferred

This coverage shall be a non-deductible plan and includes:

Single vision, lined bifocal and lined trifocal lenses. Coverage for progressive, tinted or photochromic spectacle lenses is included at no extra cost.

Frame of your choice covered up to $120.00. Plus, 20% off any out-of-pocket costs.

When you choose contacts instead of glasses, your $105.00 allowance applies to the cost of your lenses and the fitting and evaluation exam. This exam is in addition to your vision exam to ensure proper fit of contacts.

If an employee as covered in this Article does not become a member of the Association during any membership year (i.e. from September 1 to the following August 31) 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 with the law.

In order to adequately offset the per capita cost of services rendered by the Association as majority representative, the representation fee should be equal in amount to the regular unified membership dues, shall include Local, County, State and National organization fees, initiation fees and assessments charged by the Association to its own members, and the representation fee may be set up to 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.

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 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 paychecks paid to each employee on the aforesaid list during the remainder of the membership year in question. The deduction will begin with the first paycheck paid:

a. 10 days after receipt of the aforesaid list by the Board; or

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

If an employee who is required to pay a representation fee terminates his or 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 paycheck paid to said employee during the membership year in question. This shall also apply to a member terminating employment or taking a board approved leave of absence.

1. Mechanics

Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the mechanics for 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 10 days after the Board received 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 begin their employment in a bargaining unit position during the preceding 30 day period. The list will include names, job titles and dates of employment for all such employees.

The Medford Education Association shall indemnify and hold the Medford Board of Education 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 employer in conformance with this provision.

In the event that funds are not expended in either the severance pay account or the tuition reimbursement account each fund will be used to offset shortages in the other up to the maximum agreed amount for the year in the combined accounts. The formulae for distribution shall not be affected.

6. Reimbursement for courses shall be paid on or before August 25^th of each year providing final transcripts or grade reports are presented to the personnel office by June 15^th of each contract year.

D. One (1) representative of each worksite's liaison committee chosen by that liaison committee, will comprise a district-wide committee to meet with the Board of Education.

All school clerks shall be paid for the number of specified contracted days plus one (1) orientation day, if attendance is required. Clerks will be paid, at the request/approval of the building principal, for additional time above their contracted hours. Clerks will be assigned based upon individual building needs as well as student program and needs.

Sick/Personal Days

All clerks shall be entitled to sick leave as specified under State Law. All Ten (10) month clerks shall be entitled to one (1) sick day per month equal to one (1) of their contracted hourly work days. In addition, all clerks will be entitled to four (4) personal days each year equal to one (1) of their contracted hourly work days, subject to the same provisions as defined under Article XV Section B of this contract.

Contract Notification

The Board of Education shall notify clerks of their contract and salary status for the ensuing school year by August 1. Employees must return signed contracts within ten (10) work days of receipt of said contract. In the event that circumstances arise following notification set forth above which result in a decision that there is not a position available, the Board of Education shall provide two (2) weeks written notice of that determination.

Benefits

Clerks may be contracted up to twenty-nine and one half (29.5) hours per week with no provision for district provided benefits. Clerks who are contracted for over 29.5 hours per week will be entitled to district provided benefits subject to same provisions as defined under Article XIX of this contract.
Miscellaneous Provisions:

Vacancies

All vacancies for clerks positions will be posted in designated areas in each school building. Those desiring to apply for vacancies must file written statement of application with the building principal within five (5) working days of the posting of the vacancy.

Tuition Reimbursement:

Clerks shall be eligible for tuition reimbursement for approved courses and/or workshops following the same provisions as stated under Article XX of this contract.

Extra Time/Early Dismissal Days

Schedules 2 weeks - after one full year of employment (prorated for employees who have not completed one full year of employment by June 30th)
3 weeks - After five full years of employment
4 weeks - After nine full years of employment

1. Less than 3 months, no vacation

2. A support staff employee who is resigning from his/her position shall be paid his/her earned vacation pay according to the proportion of full months worked to the total contract year, unless proper notice has not been given.

Ten Month Secretary:
One day's salary shall be determined by dividing her annual salary by 200.

One day's salary shall be determined by dividing her annual salary by 240.

C. The Board and the Association agree that there shall be no discrimination and that all practices, procedures, and policies of the school system shall clearly exemplify that there is no discrimination in the hiring, training, assignment, promotion, transfer, or discipline of employees or in the application or administration of this Agreement on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, domicile, marital status, age or participation in Association activities.