1
AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
BOROUGH OF OLD TAPPAN, NEW JERSEY
AND THE
OLD TAPPAN TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTING AND ON BEHALF OF
THE SUPPORT STAFF,
CONSISTING OF THE ELEMENTARY
AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SECRETARIES,
THE PART-TIME CLERK TYPISTS,
AND
THE MAINTENANCE PERSON, ONLY
FOR THE SCHOOL YEARS:
JULY 1, 2001 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004, INCLUSIVE
WHEREAS, the BOARD OF EDUCATION of the Borough of Old Tappan, New Jersey and the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, representing and on behalf of the support staff consisting of the school secretaries, the part-time clerk typists and the maintenance person, only, have agreed upon certain proposals and understandings, for the School Years July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2004, inclusive, nunc pro tunc, which both parties desire to ratify and/or confirm by this written Agreement,
NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH:
THIS AGREEMENT ENTERED into this day of , 2001, nunc pro tunc, by and between the BOARD OF EDUCATION of the Borough of Old Tappan, Bergen County, New Jersey (hereinafter called the BOARD) and the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, representing and on behalf of the school building secretaries, the part-time clerk typists and the maintenance person, only (hereinafter called the ASSOCIATION).
This document is a three (3) year Agreement, pursuant to Revised Statute 18A:29-4.1 et seq., commencing on July 1, 2001 and ending at midnight on June 30, 2004.
ARTICLE I
RECOGNITION
1. THE BOARD hereby recognizes the ASSOCIATION as the exclusive representative to act on behalf of and as the collective negotiating and bargaining agent for the support staff members, that is, the Elementary and Middle School Building Secretaries, the part-time clerk typists and the maintenance person, only, concerning the terms and conditions of their employment.
It is hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto that this bargaining unit does not include the following positions, to wit: the book-keeper/payroll clerk, the secretaries, clerks and the part-time employees employed in the Board Administrator’s Office and/or the Secretary and/or clerks employed in the School Superintendent’s Office, all of which positions are of a confidential nature.
ARTICLE II
NEGOTIATING PROCEDURE
1. The BOARD and the ASSOCIATION agree that all negotiations shall be entered into in good faith according to Chapter 303 of the Public Laws of 1968, as amended by Chapter 123 of the Laws of 1974 and as amended by Chapter 269 of the Laws of 1989, effective January 4, 1990, more commonly referred to as the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act”, Revised Statues 34:13A-1 et seq.
2. The Liaison Committee of the ASSOCIATION and the BOARD will arrange and establish a schedule of negotiations for the aforementioned support staff members by such date as is required by law.
3. Negotiations shall commence no later than fifteen (15) days after said schedule has been arranged and established as aforesaid.
4. The ASSOCIATION shall present its proposal on behalf of the Support Staff, at least two weeks before the first scheduled meeting date set for negotiations, and the BOARD shall reply to the same at least one week before said scheduled meeting date.
5. Any agreement so negotiated, shall be reduced to writing and shall be presented to the BOARD and the ASSOCIATION for their respective adoptions.
ARTICLE III
COMPENSATION
1. The compensation, wages and/or salaries to be paid to all personnel covered by this agreement, during the School Year 2001-2002, is as set forth below.
2. During the School Year 2001-2002 each full-time individual, covered under this Agreement, shall be paid 5% above their 2000-01 School Year salary as follows:
(a) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002, shall be paid the sum of $29,626 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(b) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of ten (10) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002, shall be paid the sum of $19,200 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(c) A Middle School Secretary (C.D.W.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002, shall be paid the sum of $32,000 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(d) A Maintenance person, who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002, shall be paid the sum of $44,100 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be, together with an annual clothing allowance not to exceed the maximum sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.
3. The compensation, wages and/or salaries to be paid to all personnel covered by this Agreement, during the School Year 2002-2003, is as set forth below.
4. During the School Year 2002-2003 each full-time individual, covered under this Agreement, shall be paid 4.0% above their 2001-2002 School Year salary as follows:
(a) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, shall be paid the sum of $30,811 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(b) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of ten (10) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, shall be paid the sum of $19,968 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(c) A Middle School Secretary (C.D.W.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, shall be paid the sum of $33,280 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(d) A Maintenance person, who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, shall be paid the sum of $45,864 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be, together with an annual clothing allowance not to exceed the maximum sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.
5. The compensation, wages and/or salaries to be paid to all personnel covered by this Agreement, during the School Year 2003-2004, is as set forth below.
6. During the School Year 2003-2004 each full-time individual, covered under this Agreement, shall be paid 4% above their 2002-2003 School Year salary as follows:
(a) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, shall be paid the sum of $32,043 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(b) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of ten (10) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, shall be paid the sum of $20,767 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(c) A Middle School Secretary (C.D.W.), who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, shall be paid the sum of $34,611 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(d) A Maintenance person, who is currently employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the School Year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, shall be paid the sum of $47,699 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be, together with an annual clothing allowance not to exceed the maximum sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.
7. The established minimum base entry level salary for new full-time employees covered under this Agreement shall be as follows:
(a) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the respective School Year shall be paid a minimum of $21,955 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(b) An Elementary School Secretary (T.B.D.), who is employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of ten (10) consecutive months during the respective School Year shall be paid a minimum of $18,286 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(c) A Middle School Secretary (CDW) who is employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the respective School Year shall be paid a minimum of $24,053 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be.
(d) A Maintenance person, who is employed full-time by the BOARD for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months during the respective School Year shall be paid a minimum of $31,735 Dollars, pro-rated as the case may be together with an annual clothing allowance not to exceed the maximum sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.
8. The established hourly rate of pay for a substitute school secretary for the School Year 2001-2002 shall be the sum of $12.50.
9. The established hourly rate of pay for a substitute school secretary for the School Year 2002-2003 shall be the sum of $12.50.
10. The established hourly rate of pay for a substitute school secretary for the School Year 2003-2004 shall be the sum of $12.50.
11. The established hourly rate of pay for a part-time clerk typist and/or a part-time Library/Media Center Clerk typist for the School Year 2001-2002 shall be the sum of $13.15 Dollars and Cents.
12. The established hourly rate of pay for a part-time clerk typist and/or a part-time Library/Media Center Clerk typist for the School Year 2002-2003 shall be the sum of $13.65 Dollars and Cents.
13. The established hourly rate of pay for a part-time clerk typist and/or a part-time Library/Media Center Clerk typist for the School Year 2003-2004 shall be the sum of $ 14.20 Dollars and Cents.
14. Effective July 1, 2001, all part-time support staff members will receive a $1.00 per hour supplement added to their base rate of pay after completing ten years of continuous service with the Board.
ARTICLE IV
WORK SCHEDULE FOR SECRETARIAL/CLERK TYPIST EMPLOYEES
1. WORK DAY
A. The work day for all secretarial employees will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will include a sixty (60) minute unpaid lunch period from September 1st through June 30th.
The work day for all 12 month secretarial employees during the period July 1st through August 31st will be as follows:
The work day will be from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will include a thirty (30) minute unpaid lunch period.
2. WORK WEEK
The work week will be 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
3. OVERTIME
Overtime shall be at the hourly rate up to forty hours in one calendar week. Overtime shall be at the rate of time and a half for hours in excess of forty (40) hours in one calendar week.
ARTICLE V
WORK SCHEDULE FOR MAINTENANCE PERSON
1. WORK DAY
The work day for the Maintenance Person will be from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will include a sixty (60) minute unpaid lunch during the months that school is in session.
The work day for the Maintenance Person during the period in which school is not in session in the summer and during the recess weeks will be as follows:
The work day will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will include a sixty (60) minute unpaid lunch period.
2. WORK WEEK
The work week will be 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
During the time this agreement is in effect, the Board of Education reserves the right to extend the work week of the Maintenance Person up to 40 hours per week. Compensation for the Maintenance Person will be adjusted accordingly.
3. OVERTIME
Overtime shall be at the hourly rate up to forty hours in one calendar week. Overtime shall be at the rate of time and a half for hours in excess of forty (40) hours in one calendar week.
ARTICLE VI
TEMPORARY ABSENCE
BEREAVEMENT
1. (a) Each full-time member of the support staff covered hereunder shall be entitled to an absence for bereavement of five (5) working days in connection with the death of a member of the aforementioned staff’s immediate family, and one (1) day would be allowed for all other relatives.
(b) Each regularly employed part-time member of the support staff covered hereunder shall be entitled to five (5) working days absence, prorated, based on regularly scheduled hours worked, for bereavement only, in connection with the death of a member of the aforementioned staff’s immediate family, and would be entitled to one (1) day for all other relatives.
The BOARD and the ASSOCIATION agree that a certain amount of time is required for bereavement, however, both the BOARD and the ASSOCIATION also agree and acknowledge that the bereavement leave is not intended to be abused.
2. The immediate family includes the following: Mother, Mother-in-law, Father, Father-in-law, Husband, Wife, Sister, Brother, Son, Daughter, Grandmother, Grandfather.
PERSONAL
1. The Superintendent of Schools, within his/her sole discretion, may grant additional personal days without penalty, and a denial of which, shall be subject to review, by written application to the Board of Education within ninety (90) days of such denial. A denial by the Board of Education, however, is not subject to review.
2. No personal days shall be permitted the day prior to or after school holidays or recess periods.
1. (a) Each full-time support staff member covered under this Agreement shall be entitled to thirteen (13) days absence for sickness only, ten (10) days of which shall be cumulative.
Included in the thirteen (13) days aforementioned are the ten (10) days provided by the Revised Statute 18A:30-1.
Each person covered by this paragraph shall first use the three (3) non-cumulative days to which each is entitled each year as provided herein (e.g., the first three (3) days of sick leave will not be charged against the ten (10) cumulative days).
(b) Each part-time support staff member covered under this Agreement shall be entitled to ten (10) days absence, prorated, based on regularly scheduled hours worked, for sickness only. Ten prorated days will be cumulative.
ARTICLE VII
PAYMENT FOR ACCRUED SICK LEAVE UPON
RETIREMENT FROM THE NEW JERSEY
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT SYSTEM
1. Upon retirement from the Old Tappan Board of Education and the New Jersey Public Employment Retirement System, each full-time support staff member who has been employed continuously by the BOARD for a period of at least fifteen (15) years, and has attained the age of at least fifty-five (55) years, shall be paid for accrued sick leave as provided for in this Article.
2. As a condition precedent to any entitlement for consideration and/or payment hereunder, the eligible full-time support staff member as defined in this Article, shall:
(a) Notify the BOARD in writing, by a letter addressed to the BOARD by registered mail, return receipt requested, to be received by the BOARD no later than January 1st , of the year in which retirement is to become effective, indicating that retirement shall be irrevocably effective in the same calendar year.
(b) Have, at the time of the notification, accrued sick days of a minimum of fifty (50) days, approved by the BOARD, in order to be eligible for payment as provided for in this Article.
3. The payments made to full-time support staff members eligible under this Article, shall be as follows:
(a) Each full-time eligible support staff member shall have a minimum of at least fifty (50) accrued and approved sick leave days in order to be eligible and for which the said full-time eligible support staff member shall be paid for up to a maximum of one hundred (100) days, the sum of $10.00 per day for a maximum total payment of $1,000.00.
4. It is the clear intent of this Article that the maximum payment shall, in any event, be $1,000.00 for each individual full-time support staff member.
5. Notification of retirement received before January 1st, shall entitle eligible participants to payment on or before July 1st of the same calendar year.
6. Notification of retirement received after January 1st, shall entitle eligible participants to payment on or before July 1st of the following calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
INSURANCE
1. The BOARD shall provide and maintain full health insurance coverage for each full-time eligible employee employed on or before June 30, 1998, equal to or better than that provided by CIGNA, its successors and/or assigns.
The effective date of said coverage for new employees shall be sixty (60) days after the commencement of employment with the BOARD, or such earlier date as may be arranged by the BOARD with CIGNA, its successors and/or assigns at standard premium rates.
2. The BOARD shall provide and pay for one hundred (100%) per cent of the applicable increased costs of the premiums toward the purchase of a family plan coverage for full-time employees covered in this agreement with the same carrier who provides the coverage for the employees in the preceding paragraph provided, however, that no employees shall be entitled to receive the benefit of any insurance and/or payment by the BOARD for its health insurance premiums as it relates to family coverage if the said employee is within the coverage of any similar plan held by some other individual and that employee can voluntarily withdraw his or her inclusion from such plan.
3. For those staff members who are employed on or after July 1, 1998, the Board shall provide and maintain the full cost of health insurance coverage in only a “managed care program” (e.g., CIGNA Direct Provider Program).
4. The employees covered by this agreement, hired on or after July 1, 1998, may at their sole cost and expense choose a “traditional health plan” but, in which event the particular employee shall pay, in advance, and/or otherwise be responsible for, the difference in cost between a “managed health care program” and the cost of a “traditional health plan.”
5. (a) No health insurance coverage as mentioned herein, shall be provided and/or maintained by the BOARD for part-time employees whose employment contract and/or engagement, if tenured, for each applicable year, indicates that they are employed for a total of less than twenty-eight (28) regular hours per week as stated in said employment contract.
(b) For all part-time support staff members covered hereunder, that is, those part-time support staff members who are employed by the BOARD for at least twenty-eight (28) or more hours per week, on or after July 1, 1996, the BOARD shall only pay that amount of the health insurance coverage premium which is equal to that portion of the time that said support staff member is actually working each week.
(c) The aforementioned percentage of health insurance coverage premium shall be determined by making the numerator the total weekly contract hours, as set forth in the support staff member’s employment contract, over the denominator, which shall be the total weekly hours worked by a full-time support staff member employed by the BOARD and covered under this Agreement.
6. The BOARD agrees, when requested in writing by a full-time support staff member, (the full-time support staff members covered hereby do, by this Agreement, grant and/or give the BOARD the right and/or power to make any payroll deductions that may be necessary in order to carry out the terms of this Agreement), to make deductions from the said full-time support staff member’s pay, the cost of any other forms of insurance arranged by the full-time support staff members, such as family coverage for a dental plan, tax sheltered annuity, income protection plan, etc., provided that such action by the BOARD shall not be construed as an indication by the BOARD that such insurance coverage is a negotiable item under this or any other agreement with the ASSOCIATION.
The BOARD agrees to arrange for the administration of any of said plans, if such plans are available to the group and, further, provided that such administration shall not be at the BOARD’S expense.
7. For the school year covered herein, the BOARD agrees to pay for the individual full-time support staff member’s cost of an individual coverage dental plan, with the CIGNA Dental Program, its successors and/or assigns.
The BOARD’S contribution, during the term of this contract, shall be only the cost of said coverage for the applicable school year and, in no event, shall the BOARD pay and/or be responsible for any increases in the cost of said insurance coverage beyond the cost of individual dental coverage as of July 1, 1997 and/or as hereinafter set forth.
Any additional sums that may be necessary to fund the annual plan premiums in excess of the BOARD’S contribution aforementioned shall be paid by the eligible full-time support staff members covered therein and/or thereby, as more particularly stated above.
Administration, that is, the billing and/or the processing of the payment for the dental plan for individual employees covered hereunder shall be arranged at the BOARD’S expense, but all claims under the dental plan shall be submitted on a direct basis between the individual employee and the dental carrier.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
1. Notwithstanding the fact that the support staff members covered under this agreement are represented by the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, it is understood and agreed by each of the support staff members that they must retain as confidential all matters concerning school administration, and that they further agree not to divulge such matters to anyone including, but not limited to, the professional staff members.
It is expected that the support staff members covered hereunder will respect any areas of confidentiality about which they have been either instructed to honor by the School Administrators or which have been considered in the past, to be confidential and/or which have been brought to the attention of the support staff members.
2. All BOARD policies and procedures heretofore adopted and in existence at the date hereof are hereby ratified and confirmed and incorporated herein by reference as though set forth herein at length.
3. The BOARD agrees to provide designated representatives in each building with a copy of all applicable policy within ten (10) days after the adoption by the BOARD.
4. The duration of this Contract shall be for the period from July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2004, nunc pro tunc, inclusive as aforementioned.
5. The salary arrangement(s), i.e., allocation of money referred to herein, shall cease, become null and void and/or terminate at the end of this Contract, and further, shall not constitute a precedent nor shall the same be the subject matter of future negotiations unless and/or until the same shall be agreed upon in writing by the BOARD and the ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE X
BOARD RIGHTS
1. The BOARD reserves unto itself, sole jurisdiction and/or authority over all matters of policy and retains and reserves unto itself, without limitations, all the powers, rights, authority, duties and responsibilities conferred upon and vested in it by the Laws and Constitution of the State of New Jersey and of the United States, by the decision of the Courts of the United States and of the State of New Jersey, the Commissioner of Education, the State Board of Education of the State of New Jersey and by the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Education (New Jersey Administrative Code) and the State of New Jersey, subject to the terms herein.
2. The willingness of the BOARD to discuss matters which are within the sole prerogative of the BOARD, shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver or relinquishment of any such prerogative.
ARTICLE XI
SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS’ RIGHTS
1. All support staff members shall enjoy all of the rights granted under and by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 303 of the Laws of 1968, as amended by Chapter 123 of the Laws of 1974, and as amended by Chapter 269 of the Laws of 1989 (effective January 4, 1990) and more commonly known as the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act, Revised Statute 34:13A-1 et seq., and as subsequently amended or under any laws of the State of New Jersey, the United States and the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of New Jersey.
No support staff member shall be discriminated against, coerced, or reprimanded by virtue of their exercise of such rights, except by applicable law and the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII
JUST CAUSE
Tenured employee covered by this agreement, during the term hereof, shall not be disciplined, discharged, or reduced in rank or compensation without just cause. If any of the above actions are taken, the employee shall be given the reason and have the opportunity to appeal said action to the BOARD. In such appeals, the employee shall have the right to be accompanied by a representative of the ASSOCIATION. The decision of the BOARD shall be final and not subject to appeal or arbitration.
ARTICLE XIII
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
1. Any individual member or members of the staff shall have the right to appeal grievances affecting him or her through administrative channels as set forth in this Article and/or as otherwise provided by law.
2. DEFINITION:
A. Grievance: The term “grievance” shall mean an alleged violation, misinterpretation, or misapplication of this Agreement or of BOARD policy or administrative decisions rendered thereunder. BOARD policies and administrative decisions which do not affect the terms and/or conditions of employment shall not be considered to be within the definition of the term “Grievance” as used herein. However, the term “Grievance” and the procedures stated herein shall not apply to any matter in which:
(a) A method of review and/or legal remedy is prescribed by law and/or State Board Rules and/or Regulations and/or the New Jersey Administrative Code, having the force and effect of law or judicial decision, or
(b) The Board of Education is without authority to act, or
(c) A complaint that relates to the non-renewal, termination or notice thereof, of any nontenure employee’s contract, or
(d) Charges against a tenured employee pursuant to the Tenure Employees Hearing Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-10, et seq.) or
(e) The withholding of an increment to salaries pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:29-14. The term “employee” as used in this definition, shall mean also a group of employees having the same grievance.
(f) As to all persons covered by this agreement, the grievance procedure shall not apply in matters where the BOARD or its representatives are without authority to act, according to law, or in matters of selection for promotion.
B. Representative: The term “Representative” shall mean:
(a) As to an Employee: A member or group of members of the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, or an attorney designated in writing by the individual or by the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, as the case may be, or a representative or an attorney from the New Jersey Education Association, designated in writing by the ASSOCIATION.
(b) As to the BOARD: A member of the BOARD, the Superintendent, a member of the administration, or an attorney designated by the BOARD in writing. The ASSOCIATION shall have the right not to name a representative, but, in that event, the employee may name a representative. The BOARD and the ASSOCIATION shall have the right to change such representative at any level but not during the pendency of a decision at any given level. Such change shall be made by notice in writing.
C. Immediate Superior: The term “Immediate Superior” shall mean the person to whom the aggrieved employee is directly responsible under the Table of Organization prevailing in this School District. If no such chart is furnished, then it is any person reasonably believed by the employee to be his/her immediate superior.
D. Superintendent. The term “Superintendent” shall mean the person employed as the chief administrative officer of the School District, regardless of official title.
2. Purpose:
An individual employee or group shall have the right to present a grievance affecting him/her or it. With respect to his/her personal grievance, (s)he shall be assured freedom from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal in presenting his/her grievance. (S)he shall have the right to present his/her own grievance or to request a representative of his/her own choice, or the ASSOCIATION may appoint a representative. The employee has the right to have a representative appear with him/her commencing with Level Three and all subsequent levels of the Grievance Procedure.
3. Procedural Steps:
Level One (the informal level)
An employee who has a grievance shall discuss it first with his/her principal or immediate superior, in an attempt to resolve the matter informally within fifteen (15) school days of the date of the occurrence causing the alleged grievance. If fifteen (15) school days do not remain in the current school year, the grievance shall be filed within twenty-one (21) calendar days of the last day of school. A written decision by the principal or immediate superior shall be rendered within ten (10) days of said “informal” meeting.
Level Two
If the grievance is not settled at the informal level, the matter may be referred to the Professional Rights and Responsibility Committee of the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION for consideration. This Committee will make a determination as to whether or not the grievance shall be processed by the ASSOCIATION and the ASSOCIATION shall notify the BOARD in writing of their decision. Should the ASSOCIATION appoint a representative, they shall notify the BOARD in writing.
Level Three
Within fifteen (15) school days, the employee, or the ASSOCIATION, on behalf of the employee, may appeal the decision made at Level One to the Superintendent of Schools. The appeal to the Superintendent must be made in writing (and accompanied with all documents used in prior level) citing: (a) the grievance as defined by Article XIII 2.A; (b) the nature and extent of the injury, loss or inconvenience; (c) the result of previous discussions; (d) his/her dissatisfaction with decisions previously rendered, and (e) relief sought. The Superintendent shall request a report on the grievance from the principal/immediate superior and shall conduct a closed hearing with the concerned parties and the representative, if any, and, upon request, with the employee or principal/immediate superior separately. The Superintendent shall communicate his/her decision in writing, with the reasons therefor, to the employee and the principal/immediate superior within fifteen (15) school days from the original notice of appeal.
Level Four
If the grievance has not been resolved to the employee’s satisfaction, (s)he may file, in writing, a notice of appeal to the Board of Education by filing the same with the School Board Secretary within fifteen (15) school days from the date of the Superintendent’s decision, or from the date last provided for such a decision, if a decision was not timely rendered. The notice of appeal shall set forth the grounds of the grievance and there should be appended thereto all related papers, documents, and prior decisions. A copy of the notice of appeal shall be furnished to the Superintendent.
If the appellant, in his/her appeal to the BOARD, does not demand a private or a public hearing, the BOARD may consider the appeal on the written record submitted to it, or the BOARD may, on its own, conduct a public hearing; or it may request the submission of additional written material.
Where additional written materials are requested by the BOARD, copies thereof, if any are furnished, shall be served upon the adverse parties who shall have the right to reply thereto.
Where the appellant demands in writing a hearing before the BOARD, a hearing shall be held.
The BOARD shall make a determination within thirty (30) school days (or within forty-five (45) days during the summer months) from the receipt of the grievance and shall, in writing, notify the employee, his/her representative if there be one, the principal/immediate superior and the Superintendent of its determination and the reasons therefor.
This time period may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.
All grievances in connection with BOARD policies in existence for more than five (5) years shall terminate at Level Four hereof (BOARD level), except where there is a change from past interpretation or past implementation of such policies.
Level Five
Any grievance supported by the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION and not resolved to the satisfaction of the employee or the ASSOCIATION, after review by the Board of Education, shall, at the request of the ASSOCIATION, be submitted to arbitration. A demand for such arbitration shall be made no later than fifteen (15) school days following receipt of the written determination of the BOARD.
Failure to file within said time shall constitute a bar to such arbitration unless the aggrieved employee and the BOARD shall mutually agree in writing upon a longer time period within which to assert such a demand. The BOARD and the ASSOCIATION shall attempt to agree upon a mutually acceptable arbitrator, which arbitrator shall be an Attorney at Law of the State of New Jersey. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator, they shall immediately and jointly request the Public Employment Relations Commission to appoint an arbitrator who shall be an Attorney at Law of New Jersey. In the event the said commission shall be unable or unwilling to appoint an arbitrator, then a request shall be made to the American Arbitration Association to appoint an arbitrator who is an Attorney at Law of the State of New Jersey.
Any grievance relating to the provisions of Articles X and XI hereof and which proceeds to Level Five, shall be heard only by an arbitrator who is an Attorney at Law of New Jersey.
The arbitrator shall confer with the representative of the BOARD and of the ASSOCIATION, and shall proceed with a hearing and submit a written report in the shortest possible time, setting forth his/her findings of fact, reasoning and conclusions on the issues submitted.
The arbitrator shall be without power or authority to make any recommendations which require the commission of an act prohibited by law. (S)he shall render his/her findings and recommendations consistent with the terms of this agreement. The recommendations shall be binding on the parties.
In the event of arbitration, the costs of the arbitrator’s service shall be shared equally by the appellant and the BOARD. If the appellant is represented by the ASSOCIATION, the ASSOCIATION will bear the expense for the appellant. In addition, it is expressly provided that the arbitrator shall have the power to recommend that the costs of the arbitrator's services be borne by one party if, in his/her judgment, that party unnecessarily created the need for the arbitration, or did so for the purpose of delay, or which party’s contentions are deemed by him/her to have been unreasonable, but such determination may be subject for review by the Superior Court of New Jersey.
Failure at any step of this procedure to communicate the decision on a grievance within the time limits shall permit the employee to proceed to the next step. Failure at any step of this procedure to appeal a grievance to the next step within the specified time limits shall be deemed to be an acceptance of the decision rendered at that step, and/or an abandonment of further grievance procedure. The parties, however, may mutually agree to extend the time periods specified herein.
In the event a grievance should be filed by any employee who is not subject to the jurisdiction of any principal, or who may be answerable to more than one principal, such employee shall initiate his/her grievance with his/her immediate superior.
In any case where a grievance is based upon the direct order, ruling or determination of the Superintendent, the aggrieved employee may appeal directly to the BOARD within ten (10) school days of the issuance of said order, ruling or directive, or within ten (10) school days of the time when the same have been brought to the employee’s attention, by filing with the Secretary of the Board, in writing setting forth:
(A) The order, ruling or determination complained of,
(B) The basis of the complaint,
(C) A request for hearing if a hearing is desired.
A copy of the writing set forth above shall be served upon the
Superintendent who shall have the right to reply in writing thereto. A copy of such reply shall be served upon the aggrieved employee.
The aggrieved employee shall have the right to be present and have a representative present at any hearing above the informal level, and to make their views known.
It is understood that neither the aggrieved party nor the principal/immediate superior and/or the Superintendent of Schools shall have a right to have counsel at any appearance by the aggrieved party before either the principal/immediate superior and/or the Superintendent of Schools at the informal level in order that the grievance requested at this level would be non-adversary in nature.
It is, however, understood that the aggrieved party may appear at the informal level before the principal/immediate superior and Superintendent of Schools with any member or members of the OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION committee having jurisdiction over grievances.
Until a grievance is fully resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, all employees, including the grievant, shall continue under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools and the administrators, regardless of the pendency of any grievance, until such grievance is duly determined and the BOARD agrees not to harass nor discriminate against the appellant because of his/her having filed a grievance.
No complaint arising from a source other than through the normal administrative procedure shall be noted in the personnel file of any employee without first:
(A) Notifying the employee in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the source and contents of the complaint, and
(B) Affording the employee a hearing on such complaint if the employee shall file written demand therefor within ten (10) school days of the notice.
(C) The conduct of the said hearing shall be according to the procedures outlined in the grievance procedure. Subsequent notation of the complaint and determination shall be made only after a determination in such hearing which is adverse to the said employee.
If the arbitrator failed to make a recommendation acceptable to both parties within fifteen (15) school days after the hearing of the same, the aggrieved party shall pursue his and/or her rights and remedies afforded by the law in such case made and provided, if any.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereunto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective Presidents, attested to by their respective Secretaries, and their respective seals to be placed hereon, all on the day and year first above written.
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
BOROUGH OF OLD TAPPAN,
NEW JERSEY
ATTEST:
By _____________________________
Keith Swanson
___________________________ President
Theresa H. Guastello
Secretary
OLD TAPPAN EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION ON BEHALF OF
THE SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS
ATTEST:
By _____________________________
Kerry Beckmann
President
__________________________
Mary Casey
Secretary
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