Contract Between
Hunterdon Cty B/E Polytech Voc Sch Dist-Hunterdon
- and -
Hunterdon Cty Polytech EA
* * *
07/01/2005 thru 06/30/2008


CategorySchool District
UnitClerical, Teaching/Professional Staff

Contract Text Below
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article I Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Article II Negotiations Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Article III Grievance Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Article IV Leaves of Absence with Pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Article V Extended Leaves of Absence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Article VI Insurance Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Article VII Reimbursement for Unused Sick Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Article VIII Association Privileges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Article IX Union Security Clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Article X Protection of Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Article XI Employee Rights and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Article XII Books, Other Instructional Materials & Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Article XIII Seniority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Article XIV Personal and Academic Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Article XV Nonprofessional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Article XVI Personnel Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Article XVII Home Teaching and Summer Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Article XVIII Maintenance of Classroom Control & Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Article XIX Transfers and Reassignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Article XX Professional Staff Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Article XXI Support Staff Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Article XXII Teacher Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Article XXIII Professional Development & Educational Improvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Article XXIV Teacher Work Year/School Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Article XXV Hours and Work Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Article XXVI Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Article XXVII Superintendent’s Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Article XXVIII Secretarial Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Article XXIX Technicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Article XXX Educational Support Personnel Work Year/Work Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Article XXXI Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Article XXXII Salary Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Article XXXIII Duration of Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

RECOGNITION

The Board of Education for the Vocational School District of Hunterdon County, also known as the Hunterdon County Polytech Board of Education, hereby recognizes the Hunterdon Polytech Education Association as the exclusive representative for the purpose of negotiations under Chapter 123, New Jersey Public Laws of 1974, for all teachers, secretaries, educational support personnel, school nurse(s) and technician(s). Excluded are elected officials, members of boards and commissions, man­agerial executives, supervisory personnel, confidential employees, and all other employees.

1

NEGOTIATIONS PROCEDURE
  1. The Board and the Association agree to enter into good faith collective negotiations over a suc­cessor agreement in accordance with chapter 123, New Jersey Public Laws of 1974, to reach agreement on the terms and conditions of personnel employment within the spirit of the law. Such negotiation shall begin at a mutually agreed time, or if no agreement is reached, not later than the date established by the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). Any agreement so negotiated and ratified by the Board and the Association shall apply to all personnel represented by this agreement.
  2. The base wage will be calculated using the employed staffs salary base as of November 30th of the last year of the existing contract divided by the full time equivalent people.
  3. Written copies of the Agreement shall be produced and, after ratification by the parties, shall be signed by duly designated representatives of the Board and of the Association.
  4. The contractual parties mutually pledge that their representatives shall be clothed with author­ity to make proposals, consider proposals, and make counter proposals in the course of nego­tiations, subject to ratification by the Board of Education and the Association in order to enter binding agreements.

E. This agreement shall not be modified in whole or in part except upon written agreement duly
executed by both parties and thereafter made a part hereof.

2


GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A. Purpose
      1. The purpose of this procedure is to secure, at the lowest level possible, solutions to the problems which may arise affecting the terms and conditions of employment. Such solu­tions shall in no way alter, modify or otherwise change the terms and conditions of this agreement. Both parties agree that these proceedings will be kept confidential at every level of the procedure; however, such confidentiality shall not preclude either the Board or the Association from discussing the matter among its respective membership.
      2. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as limiting the right of any person having a grievance to discuss the matter informally with any appropriate member of the adminis­tration and having the grievance adjusted without the intervention of the association. Such adjustment shall be consistent with the terms of this agreement, and the Association shall have the opportunity to be present and to state its view at the time such adjustment is made.
B. Definitions
      1. A grievance is a claim by an employee or the Association that there has been a viola­tion, misinterpretation or inequitable application of Board policy or this agreement, or a common past practice beginning from July 1, 1997, or an administrative decision affect­ing terms and conditions of employment.
      2. An “aggrieved person” is the person or persons making such complaint.
      3. A “day” for the purpose of this article shall be any teacher work day, Monday through
      Friday, on which the district administrative offices are open.
C. Procedures
      1. Since it is important that grievances be processed as rapidly as possible, the number of days indicated at each level shall be the maximum, and every effort should be made to expedite the process.
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          All grievances, moving beyond Level One, shall be in writing, specifying the following information:
              a summary of the nature of the grievance and the parties involved;

              contract article(s), Board policy(ies), past practice(s), or administrative deci­sion(s) allegedly being misinterpreted, misapplied, or violated;

              remedy being sought; and

              reason(s) for dissatisfaction with decision at previous level.

D. Grievance Steps
          Level One - a member with a grievance should first discuss it with his/her Principal with the objective of resolving the matter informally. Resolution of a grievance at this level shall not be inconsistent with the negotiated agreement. This discussion shall occur within ten (10) working days from when the grievant learned of the incident giving rise to the grievance.

          Level Two - An employee’s problem or complaint, after having been discussed with his/her Principal and/or with any other person involved, shall be submitted in writing to the Superintendent within twenty (20) work days of the event. A decision must be returned within ten (10) work days. In the event of an unfavorable decision or no deci­sion, the grievance may be advanced to Level Three.

          Level Three - Within ten (10) work days of receipt of unfavorable action by the Superintendent, or in the case of no action, the Association may request a hearing before the Board of Education. The Board, or a committee of the Board, shall have the option to schedule a hearing. The employee must be notified within ten (10) workdays whether or not the Board will hear the grievance. If the Board decides to hear the griev­ance, the Board shall schedule a hearing within thirty (30) days of receiving the request. The Board shall render a decision within ten (10) work days of the hearing.

          Level Four -

              Within ten (10) work days of the receipt of an unfavorable decision or no decision within the time lines established in Level Three, the Association may notify the Board of its decision to submit the issue to arbitration.
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          1. The arbitrator shall be mutually selected using the procedures established by the Public Employment Relations Commission.
          2. The arbitrator’s decision shall be in writing and shall set forth the facts upon which the decision is based. Such decisions shall in no way alter, modify or otherwise change the terms and conditions of this agreement. The Board and the Association shall receive the arbitrator’s decisions as final and binding upon both parties.
          3. All costs of arbitration including, but not limited to, per diem, travel expenses, sub­sistence, and costs of the hearing area, shall be borne equally and jointly by both the Board and the Association.
          4. No claim by an employee shall constitute a grievable matter beyond Level Three or be processed beyond Level Three if it pertains to (1) a complaint of a non-tenured employee that arises by reason of not being re-employed, (2) any rule or regulation of the State Commissioner of Education, or (3) any matter which according to law is beyond the scope of Board authority, or (4) any matter outside the scope of legally negotiable items, terms and conditions of employment.
E. Miscellaneous
      1. All meetings and hearings held under these procedures shall be closed to the public and shall include only parties as are in interest and/or their designated representatives as set forth in these articles.
      2. No reprisal for grievance actions shall be exercised by the Administration or Board against any employee who has initiated a grievance action.
      3. No reprisal for grievance actions shall be exercised by the Association against any
      Administrator or Board member who has been involved in a grievance action.
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LEAVES OF ABSENCE WITH PAY

A. Sick Leave
      1. All employees shall be entitled to ten (10) accumulative sick leave days and one (1) accumulative family illness day for each year of the contract as of the first official day of said school year, whether or not they report for duty on that date.
      2. Individuals hired after the first official day of the school year will be entitled to 1.1 days of sick leave for each month worked.
B. Temporary Leave
      1. The Board shall grant the following:
          1. Three (3) days leave of absence for personal business. The Principal must be notified in writing three (3) school days in advance. The applicant for such leave shall not be required to state the reason for taking such leave. All requests for personal leave shall be subject to review and approval by the Superintendent.

              The number of personal days granted and taken on any given day shall be limit­ed to twenty (20) percent of the number of staff within the job titles represented by this agreement as of September 1 of each year. In the event that more than twenty (20) percent of the staff apply for a personal day on any given day, they will be granted to the first staff members who applied. Unused personal days will accumulate as sick leave.

              Personal days shall not be used on the day before or after a holiday, school recess or during the first or last five days of the school year unless approved by the Superintendent. Request for personal leave during these times shall include the nature of the personal business and the reason(s) the business cannot be conducted on another date.

              Definition: Personal leave is defined as absence from employment, excluding vacation, for which personal business cannot be accomplished after scheduled working hours.

          2. Up to five (5) consecutive work days for bereavement in the event of the death of an employee’s spouse, child or parent.
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          1. Up to three (3) consecutive work days for bereavement in the event of death of a sibling, grandparent, grandchild, in-laws, or any member of the immediate house­hold. In all other cases, one (1) day shall be granted unless a longer leave is approved by the Superintendent.
          2. The Board will grant time necessary for appearance on behalf of the Board or required by the Board in any legal proceedings connected with the Board or the school district.
          e. In the event of jury duty, the Board will continue to pay the employee’s salary. The
          employee shall sign over to the Board any jury duty reimbursement.

          f, Time necessary for persons called into temporary active duty, not to exceed three (3) months, of any unit of the U.S. Reserves or the State National Guard, provid­ed such obligations cannot be fulfilled on days when school is not in session. An employee shall be paid his/her regular pay in addition to any pay which he/she receives from the State or Federal Government.

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                          ARTICLE XXII
                          ARTICLE XXII
EXTENDED LEAVES OF ABSENCE
  1. The Board shall provide leaves of absence without pay for any employee of the district whose absence from duties is due to a physical (which includes pregnancy) or mental disability.
  2. An employee who has an actual or anticipated disability shall present to his/her Principal a writ­ten statement from his/her physician (as soon as possible) showing the date or estimated date of disability. Upon returning to work from his/her disability, he/she must get a letter from his/her doctor certifying that he/she can resume his/her responsibilities at work. The end of this dis­ability period is determined by his/her health and his/her doctor’s advice.
  3. A maternity leave is a disability leave that shall be granted by the Board. If a staff member is pregnant, she shall get a letter from her doctor indicating her expected date of delivery and when her doctor anticipates the start of her disability. She shall summit this letter and a letter of notification to the Board informing the Board of her intention to resign, take a child rearing leave, or return to work after disability leave.
  4. Leaves shall also be granted in accordance with the New Jersey Family Leave Act and the Federal Family Medical Leave Act.

E. Child-Rearing Leave. In case of a birth or adoption of a minor child, any employee may request a leave, without pay or emoluments, for child-rearing purposes. Such leave shall be granted subject to the following:
      1. A nontenured teacher is eligible to take a child-rearing leave for the remainder of the school year during which the birth or adoption occurs.
      2. A tenured teacher is eligible to take up to two (2) years of child-rearing leave from the time at which birth or adoption occurs.
      3. In the case of a female teacher, a child rearing leave may become effective immediate­ly upon the termination of a disability leave due to pregnancy.
      4. Such a request must be in writing and submitted at least one (1) month prior to the antic­ipated commencement of the leave indicating a preference for a particular starting date is subject to Board approval.
F. Upon return to employment, an employee shall be advanced on the salary schedule if he/she has worked at least ninety (90) school days during the school year in which the leave is grant­ed.

G. Other leaves of absence without pay may be granted by the Board’s discretion for any good
reason.

8

                          ARTICLE XXII
INSURANCE PROTECTION
  1. The Board will provide individual and full family health care insurance coverage and prescrip­tion coverage. Such coverage must be equal to or greater than the State Health Benefits Program.
  2. The Board agrees to provide family dental coverage as described below:
          Annual maximum . . . . . . . . .$1,250. Deductible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$0. Payment basis . . . . . . . . . . . . .UCR Preventive service (class I) . . .100% Basis service (class II) . . . . . .100% Major service (class III) . . . . . . .50% Orthodontic benefit (class IV) . .50%

          Yearly deductible $50.00 per person / Max $150.00 per family $1000 (lifetime maximum)

      1. A full benefit package will be provided for any employee covered by this agreement work­ing a minimum of twenty-two (22) hours per week.
      2. The insurance protection package will be available to all dependent children to age 23.

      3. Voluntary Disability Insurance fees for coverage under Prudential plans will be deducted
      from the pay of each individual employee enrolled in the program. A minimum of three
          (3) enrolled employees is required.
9
                          ARTICLE XXII
REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNUSED SICK DAYS
  1. Any employee who retires from Hunterdon County Polytech District in accordance with the rules and regulations of the District and the New Jersey Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund shall be eligible to receive credit for unused sick leave. The employee shall notify the District by January 30th of the year in which the teacher intends to retire. If this notice is given later than January 30th, the employee will still be eligible for the reimbursement of sick days, but his/her payment may be delayed for one (1) year.
  2. Any employee who has worked at least ten (10) full years in the Hunterdon County Polytech District (including their years in North Hunterdon/Voorhees and Hunterdon Central) shall, upon retirement, reduction in force, or death, be reimbursed for one-half of all accumulated but unused sick days, calculated on 1/200 of the employee’s salary with a maximum benefit not exceeding eighty (80) days pay. The reimbursement shall be paid to the former employee or his/her designated beneficiary in three (3) equal annual payments based on the salary at the time of retirement.

      Effective with all new employees hired on or after July 1, 2005, the maximum benefit under this section shall not exceed eighty (80) days’ pay or $20,000.00, whichever is less.
10
                          ARTICLE XXII
ASSOCIATION PRIVILEGES
  1. The Board agrees to furnish to the Association in response to reasonable requests information concerning the financial resources of the district, including but not limited to annual financial reports and audits, list of certificated personnel, agenda and minutes of all board meetings, stu­dent census data, names and addresses of all employees who give permission to release same, and such information that shall assist the Association in developing intelligent, accurate and constructive programs on behalf of the employees, together with information that may be necessary for the Association to process any grievance or complaint. Cost for duplicating such materials will be borne by the Association.
  2. Representatives of recognized bargaining units, i.e., the Association, and New Jersey Education Association, and the National Education Association, shall be permitted to transact official Association business on school property, provided that this shall not interfere with or interrupt normal school operations.
  3. The Association and its representatives shall have the privilege to use the school buildings at all reasonable hours for meetings. A request to the Superintendent shall be made in advance to the time and place of all such meetings.
  4. The Association shall have the privilege to use Polytech school facilities or Polytech leased facilities normally available to employees. The Association shall pay for the reasonable cost of all materials, supplies, and custodial services incident to such use and will assume responsi­bility for their proper operation and maintenance.
  5. In each school building in which there is not a staff lounge or dining room the Association shall have space to post notices on existing facilities in a mutually agreed upon location.
  6. The Association shall have the privilege to use the inter-school mail facilities and school mail boxes.
  7. The Board of Education agrees to grant up to two (2) days leave to the President of the Association for duties in connection with his/her office.
  8. Whenever any representative of the Association or any employee is mutually scheduled by the Board and Association to participate during working hours in negotiations, grievance proceed­ings, conferences, or meetings, he/she shall suffer no loss of pay.
11
                          ARTICLE XXII
UNION SECURITY CLAUSE
  1. Upon the request of the Association, the Board shall deduct Association dues or a representa­tion fee from the wages of each employee.
  2. These deductions shall commence thirty (30) days after the beginning of employment in the unit.
  3. A representation fee will be deducted from the wages of any employee ten (10) days after can­celing his/her membership in the Association.
  4. The amount of said representation fee shall be certified to the Board of Education by the Association within five (5) working days after the effective date of this Article, which amount shall not exceed 85% of the regular membership dues, fees, and assessments charged by the Association to its members.
  5. The Association shall establish and maintain at all times a demand and return system as pro­vided by N J S A34:13A-5.4 (2) (C) and (3) (L.1979 C. 477), and membership in the Association shall be available to all employees in the unit on an equal basis at all times. In the event the Association fails to maintain such a system, or if membership is not so available, the Board of Education shall immediately cease making such deductions.
  6. The union shall indemnify and hold the employer 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.


12
                          ARTICLE XXII
PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES
  1. Employees shall not be required to work under unsafe or hazardous conditions, or to perform
    tasks which endanger their health, safety, or well-being.
  2. An employee may use reasonable force as necessary to protect him/herself from attack, to pro­tect another person or property, to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to others, or to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects upon the person, or control of any person causing a threatl.
  3. The Board shall give full support, including medical, rehabilitation, psychological and legal serv­ices beyond what is covered under worker’s compensation and medical benefits to any employ­ee who is assaulted while acting in the discharge of his/her duties.
  4. Employees shall immediately report cases of assault suffered by them in connection with their employment to their immediate supervisor.

E. Such notification shall be forwarded immediately to the Superintendent, who shall comply with any appropriate request from the employee for information relating to the incident, or the per­son involved to the extent the law allows and shall act as liaison between the employee and the police and the Courts.

13
                          ARTICLE XXII
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  1. Pursuant to Chapter 123, Public Laws 1974 (N.J.S.A. 34:13A-1, et seq., as amended), the Board hereby agrees that every employee of the Board shall have the right freely to organize, join, and support the Association and its affiliates for the purpose of engaging in collective negotiations and other concerted activities for mutual aid and protection. As a duly selected body exercising governmental power under color of law of the State of New Jersey, the Board undertakes and agrees that it shall not directly, or indirectly discourage, deprive, or coerce any employee of any rights conferred by Chapter 123, Public Laws 1974, or other laws of New Jersey, or the Constitution of New Jersey and the United States; that it shall not discriminate against any employee with respect to hours, wages, or any terms or conditions of employment by reason of his/her membership in the Association and its affiliates, his/her participation in any activities of the Association and its affiliates, collective negotiations with the Board, or his/her institution of any grievance, complaint or proceeding under the Agreement, or otherwise with respect to any terms, or conditions of employment.
  2. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deny, or restrict any employee, or Board mem­ber such rights as he/she may have under New Jersey laws, or other applicable laws and reg­ulations. The rights granted to employees thereunder shall be deemed to be in addition to those provided elsewhere.
  3. No employee shall be disciplined, reprimanded, reduced in rank or compensation, or deprived of any professional advantage without just cause. Any such action asserted by the Board, or representative thereof, shall be subject to the grievance/arbitration procedure herein set forth except when precluded by law.
  4. No employee shall be prevented from wearing pins or other identification of membership in the Association, or its affiliates.
  5. Individuals associated with the Board of Education and the Association will not discuss with the students or attempt to influence students’ opinions in regard to any matter under discussion by the parties to the Agreement.
  6. Any questions, or criticism of an employee, Board member, or administrator shall be made in confidence and not in the presence of students, or parents, or at any public gathering unless no other way exists.
  7. If an employee is required to attend a meeting with the Board, Superintendent, or designated representative for the purpose of discipline, he/she will be so notified and may have an Association representative present during such a meeting. The employee shall be notified, in writing, at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
  8. Board members and employees shall be guided by the Code of Ethics of their respective organization.

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                          ARTICLE XXII
BOOKS, OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
  1. Teachers purchasing materials and/or supplies with the advance approval of the Superintendent or immediate supervisor shall be reimbursed upon submission of the appropri­ate receipt of purchase.
  2. The classroom teacher shall be consulted on the selection of textbooks and related instruc­tional materials.
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                          ARTICLE XXII
SENIORITY

A. Professional Staff (Certified)
      1. Any reduction in force of the professional staff (Certified) shall be conducted in accor-
      dance with the state statutes and judicial decision.
B. Support Staff (Non-certified)
      1. Any support staff (non-certified) member’s seniority shall be calculated from his/her orig­inal date of employment in accordance with the system he/she has transferred from on July 1, 1996. In the event of a reduction in force in any employment category, support staff members with the least seniority shall be the first to be riffed.
      2. A support staff member whose position is lost due to a reduction in force shall have the right to bump into any other employment category where he/she has performed satis­factorily and has greater seniority in the category.
      3. A riffed support staff member shall be given preference by seniority in regard to any future openings in any of his/her previous employee categories.
      4. A support staff member whose work day, work week, or work year is reduced shall have the right to bump another employee with less seniority in the same job title.

16
                          ARTICLE XXII
PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
  1. The Board and the Association agree that the private and personal life of an employee is with­in the appropriate concern or attention of the Board only when it interferes with the employee’s responsibilities to and relationship with students and/or the school system.
  2. The Board and the Association agree that employees will be entitled to full rights of citizenship, and no religious, or political activities of any employee outside of school, or the act thereof, will be grounds for a disciplinary action, or discrimination with respect to the employment of such employee, providing they do not violate the Constitution of the United States.


17
                          ARTICLE XXII
NONPROFESSIONAL DUTIES
  1. Employees shall not be required to make collections for outside vendors.
  2. Employees shall not be required to solicit for student competitions, awards, banquets and so forth.

C. Use of personal cars for school trips is forbidden, unless it is voluntary and permission has been granted by the Superintendent, Principal, or Supervisor. When personal cars are used, volun­tarily and with administrative approval, reimbursement shall be at the rate used by the IRS in addition to full reimbursement for any tolls or parking fees.

18

                          ARTICLE XXII
PERSONNEL FILES

Official personnel files shall be maintained in the Superintendent’s office in accordance with the fol­lowing procedures:
  1. Administrators will be encouraged to place in the file information of a positive nature indicating special competencies, achievements, performance, or contributions of an academic, profes­sional, or civic nature. All material received from and signed by responsible sources concern­ing an employee’s conduct, service, or character may be placed in the file.
  2. Any materials regarding an employee from any source, including administration, parents, stu­dents, or other persons that are used in any manner in evaluating the professional competen­cy of any employee shall be promptly investigated and called to the attention of the employee
      in writing, prior to filing in said employee’s file. This material shall be signed by the employee. The employee will then receive a duplicate copy. The employee shall have the opportunity to respond in writing to and/or rebut such materials within twenty (20) working days. Such response shall be placed in his/her file.
  3. All materials placed in an employee’s personnel file shall be signed by the employee, duplicat­ed, and given to him/her for his/her own disposition with the express understanding that his/her signature in no way indicates agreement with the content thereof. Any material that the employ­ee sees and refuses to sign may be co-signed by the Principal and the President of the Association to indicate that they witnessed the reading of the material by the employee in ques­tion. Any material not signed by the employee may not be used in the grievance or evaluation procedure. However, material co-signed by the Principal and the President of the Association indicating that the employee has seen the material may be used in the grievance or evaluation procedure.
  4. No material from an employee’s personnel file shall be made public without the written permis­sion of the employee unless necessitated by law.
19
                          ARTICLE XXII
HOME TEACHING & SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
  1. All openings for positions in summer curriculum employment, summer school teaching, home teaching, and/or any other professional positions shall be publicized to the members of the pro­fessional staff according to the procedures prescribed in Article XX.
  2. Support staff members shall be notified of any opportunity for summer employment in their work category.

20
                          ARTICLE XXII
MAINTENANCE OF CLASSROOM CONTROL & DISCIPLINE
  1. A definition of the duties and responsibilities of all administrators, supervisors, and other per­sonnel pertaining to student discipline shall be reduced to writing by the Administration and pre­sented to each teacher at the start of each school year.
  2. When, in the judgment of a teacher, a student by his/her immediate behavior requires the instant attention of an administrator, psychologist, physician, or other specialist, the teacher shall so inform his/her immediate supervisor and may inform the appropriate certified person­nel.

C. When, in the judgment of a teacher, a student by his/her immediate behavior seriously disrupts the instructional program or endangers the health and safety of the teacher, staff or students, the teacher may immediately temporarily exclude the student from the classroom and refer him/her to the appropriate administrator.

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                          ARTICLE XXII
TRANSFERS AND REASSIGNMENT

A. Professional Staff
  1. Professional staff who desire a change in building assignment and/or school subject
      assignments may file a written statement of such desire with the Superintendent no later than April 1. Such statement shall include the subject and/or school to which the pro­fessional staff member desires to be assigned.
  2. As soon as practicable, but not later than June 1, the Superintendent shall post in the schools and give the Association a system-wide schedule showing the names of all pro­fessional staff who have been reassigned.

3. Offers of summer employment to professional staff members shall be in writing, speci­fying the terms and conditions of the employment. Such summer employment contracts shall be binding on both parties. Those summer jobs that are customary, anticipated, and reasonably certain shall be offered no later than May 30.

B. Support Staff

  1. Support staff who desire a change in building assignment may file a written statement of such desire with the Superintendent. Such statement shall include the position and/or school to which the support staff member desires to be assigned.
  2. As soon as practical the Superintendent will post in the school and give the Association a system wide schedule showing the names of all support staff who have been reas­signed.

1. A riffed support staff member shall be given preference by seniority in regard to any
future openings in any of his/her previous employee categories.

2. Any employee whose work day, work week, or work year is reduced shall have the right
to bump another employee with less seniority in the same job title.

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                          ARTICLE XXII
PROFESSIONAL STAFF EMPLOYMENT
  1. The parties of this Agreement concur with the present policy of making every attempt to hire only fully certified teachers holding standard certificates issued by the New Jersey State Board of Examiners for every regular teaching assignment.
  2. The initial salary for any bargaining unit member hired by the Board of Education after July 1, 1996 shall be negotiated between the Board and the employee but shall not be less than the minimum nor greater than the maximum set forth in this agreement.
  3. When any vacancy or new position occurs, information will be made available of such vacan­cy or new position to all employees. Employees who apply will be interviewed. Vacancies will be posted in all areas reserved for such postings. Employees will receive vacancy information by mail during the summer.
  4. All Schedule B positions of Article XXXII will be posted in all areas reserved for postings by May 15 of the current school year for the following school year. The Board at its’ discretion may fill or not fill posted positions or may add positions at a later date.
23
                          ARTICLE XXII
SUPPORT STAFF EMPLOYMENT
  1. Employees shall be notified of their contract and salary status for the ensuing school year no later than May 15 of the preceding year.
  2. Every effort shall be made to notify employees of their assignments no later than May 30 of the preceding school year. In the event of an emergency, a thirty (30) day grace period will be allowed. If any change in an employee’s assignment is made after the above time limits, the employee shall be notified immediately.

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                          ARTICLE XXII
TEACHER FACILITIES

A. All school facilities shall be available to staff members for professional use subject to the fol-
lowing criteria:
  1. School facilities that are within the normal operational duties of staff members are avail­able for use for professional purposes on school days until 10:00 PM and weekends by pre-arrangement with the immediate supervisor. All interior and exterior doors and win­dows will be locked securely when leaving the building in the area used by the teacher.
  2. When school facilities are used and a custodian is not on duty, staff members will assume responsibility for building security in the area of use with the permission of the landlord/supervisor.
  3. It is agreed that all staff members shall exercise sound and prudent judgment in the con-
    trol of keys to school facilities.
  4. When students are involved in activities outside the normal school day, it is agreed that no student, or group of students shall be left in a building after the building has been secured or left unsupervised.

5. A teacher shall be issued those keys necessary to obtain access to his/her teaching sta-
tion and main office area.

B. The school shall have the following facilities:

  1. Adequate space in which teachers may store instructional materials and supplies;

1. Adequate equipment and supplies to aid the preparation of instructional materials;
  1. A work/office/conference area available for the use of district employees, ie. teachers and administrators. This area will not be available for student use. Although employees shall be expected to exercise reasonable care in maintaining the appearance and clean­liness of the area, it shall be regularly cleaned by the school’s custodial staff.

2. A communication system so that teachers can communicate readily with the office from
their areas.

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      1. Adequate off-street, paved parking facilities properly maintained and identified for staff use only.
      2. Upon request, a Webster Collegiate Dictionary in every classroom.
      3. A serviceable desk, chair, and filing cabinets for the use of each professional staff mem­ber.
      4. Suitable closet space for each employee to store coats, personal articles, etc.
      9. Copies of all texts, used in each course taught, exclusively for the teacher’s use.

      10 Adequate bulletin board and chalkboard space in every classroom.

  1. Upon request, any teacher or aide shall be provided with a smock, laboratory coat, or protec­tive shop garment. Laundering services for all said items shall be provided without charge to the individual. A pair of prescription safety glasses will be provided to any employee whose work environment is determined to be an eye hazard area. Each request for payment for pre­scription safety glasses shall include certification by an eye specialist that a prescription change is required. The Board will reimburse cost of the safety glasses only up to $150.
  2. All teachers who are assigned to teach in more than one building shall have a desk or other equivalent facilities, and a place to store materials and supplies in an office, classroom, or teacher work area for their professional use, in each building.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT

A. The Board recognizes that it shares with its professional staff responsibility for upgrading and
updating of teacher performance and attitudes for the improvement of instruction.
      A professional staff member may upgrade their classroom performance and attitudes for the improvement of instruction in on of three ways:
                  College Courses
                  Technical Training Summer Study Grant
      College Courses
      1. Courses must be approved by the Principal and the Superintendent prior to the profes­sional staff member’s registration.
      2. Courses may be taken for the improvement of classroom instruction.
      3. Attendance must be at an accredited college or university.
      4. A teacher must first complete the requirements for standard teacher certification in the position currently held before being eligible for tuition reimbursement.
      5. Reimbursement cost per one (1) credit, both graduate and undergraduate, will be based on Rutger’s University’s current cost.
      6. Reimbursement shall be for declared tuition only and shall not be obtained from more than one source.

      The Board shall limit reimbursement to a maximum of nine (9) credits or 135 hours of techni­cal training, or a combination of the two, per person per school year, to the maximum of the appropriation for Professional Development and Educational Improvement. In the event requests exceed the amount appropriated, reimbursement will be pro-rated accordingly.
          1. Receipts for payment to the college and evidence that the employee completed the course with a passing grade of “B”or better, or a “Pass” in a pass/fail course, are required for reimbursement.
          2. Reimbursement will be made by voucher upon completion of the course after tuition receipts and college transcripts are submitted to the Superintendent show­ing credits and grades earned.
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      Technical Training
      The Board will pay for approved technical training. Requests must be put in writing to the Principal twenty (20) days prior to the workshop. For every fifteen (15) hours of approved tech­nical training, the Board will credit the employee one (1) credit hour on the pay scale.

      1. Technical training is defined as courses in a mechanical/scientific or specialized field used in conjunction with special skills and practical knowledge in the performance of the employee’s assignment. Courses shall be reimbursed by the Board with prior approval of the Superintendent. Only such courses sponsored by industrial concerns, trade union, or trade associations are eligible.

      The Board will pay travel for technical training; and tuition or registration for approved profes­sional training (technical and summer study grants) that enhances or updates the profession­al skills of the employee subject to the maximum in paragraph D.

A. Summer Study Grants
      A summer study grant may be awarded to a professional staff member.
      1. Two (2) summer study grants of a maximum of five (5) days each shall be awarded in any one (1) year.
      2. Requests for summer study grant must be received by the Superintendent in writing in such form as may be mutually agreed on by the Association and the Superintendent, no later than November 1 st of the school year prior to the period for which the summer study grant is requested. Action must be taken on all such requests no later than the regular­ly scheduled March board meeting of the school year prior to the period for which the summer study grant is requested.
      3. A professional staff member awarded a summer study grant shall be paid $200 per day for each day of school attended up to a total of five (5) days. This amount is outside of the maximum set forth in paragraph D.

          a. The cost of travel for the summer study grant is the responsibility of the staff mem-
          ber awarded the study grant.
      4. A summer study grant is to be used for approved industry sponsored programs/work­shops which are directly related to the trade area.
      5. Registration costs for each five (5) day summer study grant will be covered subject to the maximum in paragraph D.
      6. A teacher on a summer study grant shall be obligated to continue his/her employment with the District for a period of two (2) years following the summer study grant or repay the Board of Education the salary received for the study grant. This clause shall be waived in the event of unanticipated retirement for health reasons, disability, military leave or other reasons acceptable to the Board.
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      1. A teacher applying for a summer study grant shall have completed at least five (5) years of employment with Hunterdon County Polytech.
      2. A teacher, once receiving a summer study grant, will become eligible for another summer study grant two (2) years after the previous grant.
      9. If a teacher, once selected for a summer study grant cannot participate, the next highest rated applicant having met all criteria will be extended an invitation for a summer study grant.
B. The Board and the Association agree to establish jointly a committee on summer study grants which shall make recommendations to the Board on all applications and requests for summer study grants. This committee on summer study grants, hereinafter referred to in this article as “the committee” shall consist of three (3) members appointed by the Superintendent, and three (3) members appointed by the Association President. During its consideration of applications, the committee shall be guided in part by the following criteria:
    1. The purpose of the summer study grant.
    2. The benefit of the summer study grant to the school district.
    3. The workshop/program description taken under the summer study grant.
    4. Number of years since last summer study grant.
      5. Length of service of the applicant.

      The committee shall not regard any one of the above-enumerated criteria a mandatory require­ment for a summer study grant, but rather each application shall be considered on the basis of its own merits. The committee shall establish an application form in which the applicant shall fur­nish such information as will render the committee knowledgeable of the applicant’s status with respect to the above-enumerated criteria, and such additional relevant information as the com­mittee, in its judgment, deems necessary.

      1. If, for any reason, the purpose for which the summer study grant is terminated, the Superintendent must be notified immediately.
      2. At the conclusion of the summer study grant, the teacher shall be obligated to make a formal presentation of his/her study topic before the Board and/or interested staff.
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Miscellaneous
  1. Professional staff will be encouraged to join professional organizations relating to their
    field of expertise in order to increase professional knowledge and stay up-to-date.
  2. Accommodations will be made by Polytech, both financially and through release time,
    for professional staff to become regular and active participants in professional organi­zations in their vocational/academic field as long as that participation does not have a negative impact on the instructional program. A certificate of attendance must be sub­mitted before any financial reimbursement is rendered.
  3. Professional staff members successfully completing those in-service courses or acade-
    my programs that have been designated by the Superintendent shall receive district credits that may be used for advancement on Schedule A of this contract. The credit value of the course and requirements for successful completion shall be determined by the Superintendent before the course begins.
  4. Tuition paid will be reimbursed to certified and support staff members if it is deemed by the district Principal that the course or courses will increase the support staff member’s skill and/or knowledge in such a way as to benefit the district directly.

Professional Development & Educational Improvement Fund

The board will allot funds, in accordance with the table below, toward all of the educational costs described herein.

2005-06 $21,000 per year.
2006-07 $21,000 per year.
2007-08 $21,000 per year

  1. One-third (1/3) of the allotted monies for professional development and educational
    improvement will be available for each semester (summer, fall and spring). Any money not used in a given semester will be held until the end of the spring semester, and then divided equally among those eligible until everyone has been reimbursed to the 100% level.
  2. Denial of request for education expenses is subject to appeal.


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                          ARTICLE XXIV
TEACHER WORK YEAR/SCHOOL CALENDAR
  1. The school calendar shall be established by the Board upon the recommendation of the Administration after their consultation with representatives of the Association.
  2. The in-school work year, (184 days) shall include the following:
    1. Days when students are in attendance (180)
    2. Orientation day (1)
    3. In-service days (3)
          a. The third in-service day will be removed from the school calendar and replace with a make-up student contact day in the event of five (5) snow days prior to the date of the third in-service. In that event the school year shall then be 183 days.
    4. Three built in snow days which will be removed from the school work year if not used.
  3. In addition to “B” above, new teachers shall attend one (1) additional orientation day prior to the start of the school year.
  4. Professional staff members shall participate in six (6) evening activities:
          Back To School Night
          Open House
          Awards Program
          A “Trade” Association Meeting
          Fall Advisory Committee Meeting
          Spring Advisory Committee Meeting

          a. On days that the teaching staff have to attend an evening event as listed above,
          they will be dismissed at 2:15 p.m.

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HOURS AND WORK LOAD

A. Professional Staff Members
      1. Professional staff members are expected to devote to their assignments, the time nec­essary to meet their responsibilities.
      2. Work Day
          1. The total in-school work day shall not exceed seven and one-half (7 1/2) contin­uous hours; the last day of the work week will be six and three-quarters (6 3/4) hours. Any voluntary extension of the work day at the request of an administra­tor shall be paid on the hourly rate established in Article XXXII, Stipends Salary Schedule B or non-instructional duty, to the exclusion of adult education pro­grams.
          2. Professional staff members having less than a full teaching load shall work only the fractional number of continuous hours per day corresponding to their frac­tional pay.
      3. Work Load
          1. The daily student contact time shall not exceed an average of 1550 minutes per week, per year to be prorated for professional staff members working part-time.
          2. The total student contact time may not exceed a total of 1640 minutes in any given week, (1 semester/2 marking periods) per year to be prorated for profes­sional staff members working part-time.
          3. In case of a staffing conflict where a professional staff member’s student contact time exceeds the average 1550 minutes per week, the professional staff member has the option to obtain a stipend based on their salary prorated for the addition­al contact time, or accept the contact time in lieu of comp time not during their scheduled student contact time.
          4. The term “student contact time” shall mean those periods of time when a teacher is assigned to be with students, instructional or supervisory.
          5. Professional staff members shall have a duty-free lunch period of 200 minutes per week. Any professional staff member working three-fifths (3/5) or more shall have a duty-free lunch period of 200 minutes per week.
          6. Professional staff members may leave the building during their duty-free lunch period and at other times with the approval of an Administrator.
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          1. Professional staff members shall have 200 minutes of duty-free planning and preparation time each week. Any professional staff member working three-fifths (3/5) or more shall have 200 minutes of duty free planning and preparation time each week.
          2. When teachers are not teaching their maximum time, the time left over may be transferred to administrative assignments.

          i. Administrative assignments are defined as activities required for the efficient operation of the schools, such as safety coordinator, A/V coordinator, equipment inventory, etc. The administration will schedule teachers for these activities in an equitable matter.
4. Meetings
          1. Professional staff members may be required to attend three (3) district-wide fac­ulty meetings per school year that may last until 4 PM on a school day.
          2. Professional staff members may be required to attend campus faculty meetings up to twice a month, within the normal school day.
          3. Professional staff members may be required to attend committee meetings up to twice a month, within the normal school day.
          4. The staff meetings will start within ten (10) minutes of student dismissal. If it is anticipated that a meeting may extend past the normal school day, except for part “a” above, there should be an early dismissal of the students.
          5. Notice of the meeting should be given seven (7) days in advance. An agenda shall be given to the staff one day in advance. Professional staff shall have the opportunity to suggest items for the agenda.
          6. The Superintendent may call a meeting to address an emergency situation at the end of the normal day or no earlier than sixty (60) minutes before the start of the school day.
5. Travel
          1. Employees traveling between buildings shall have travel time credited to contract hours.
          2. Employees asked to travel in the process of their job requirements for Polytech will be reimbursed for use of their personal car at the IRS rate at the start of the fiscal year.
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EVALUATION

The Board and Association recognize that:

A. Evaluation can be useful as an aid for:

    1. Improving employee performance.
    2. Retention, guidance, and promotion of employees.
    3. Self-improvement.
    4. Administrator-staff rapport
B. The person being evaluated shall have full knowledge of the procedures, the qualifications of
the evaluator and the findings thereof.
  1. Professional staff members shall be evaluated by persons certified by the State of New
    Jersey to supervise instruction.
  2. Every non-tenured professional staff member shall be evaluated as per N.J.A.C. 6:4.1.

3. Tenured professional staff members will be evaluated in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6:3-
4.3.

C. Procedure:

  1. Evaluations will be followed, within ten (10) working days, by a post-conference. The evaluation post-conference shall involve the following: the evaluatee, the evaluator, and an optional observer from the Association if requested by the evaluatee.
  2. Professional staff members shall be given a copy of the written evaluation of their work prepared and signed by the evaluator at least one (1) full school day prior to the post-observation conference.

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      3. The professional staff member being evaluated will be permitted to submit a written rebuttal to an evaluation. The evaluatee shall have the right to discuss the evaluation and the rebuttal with the evaluator, the Principal, and/or the Superintendent within ten (10) working days of the post-observation conference. The evaluation rebuttal-confer­ence shall involve the following: the evaluatee, the evaluator, and an optional observer from the Association if requested by the evaluatee.
          All such written evaluations and rebuttals must bear the signatures of the evaluator and the evaluatee at the conclusion of the rebuttal conference. The written evaluation and rebuttal shall be placed in the employee’s personnel file.
D. Support staff: A support staff member retained by the Board beyond 90 calendar days, without having had a written evaluation, shall be presumed to have performed satisfactorily for deter­mination of seniority rights.

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                  SUPERINTENDENT’S COUNCIL
  1. The Superintendent’s Council shall consist of one (1) Officer and three (3) representatives appointed by the Association and three (3) members appointed by the Superintendent and the Superintendent. The Council shall meet once a month unless an emergency meeting is need­ed. However, upon mutual agreement between the Superintendent and the Association President a meeting may be canceled due to lack of agenda items. Topics may consist of such matters as teaching techniques, curriculum improvement, extra curricular programs, in-service training, testing and evaluation, philosophy and educational goals of the district, research and experimentation, educational specifications for buildings, curriculum of summer school, and other related matters regarding the effective operation of the Hunterdon County Polytech School District.
  2. The Superintendent’s Council shall establish its own rules of procedure and shall provide for a rotating chairperson who shall be responsible for the arrangement and conduct of meetings. A quorum of the Superintendent’s Council shall consist of four (4) members.

C. In addition to whatever unassigned time they may be entitled to under the terms of this Agreement, teachers who are members of the Superintendent’s Council or any of its sub-com­mittees shall be provided with released time for the purpose of working on any of the projects defined above, if approved by the Superintendent.

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D. Vacations

                        ARTICLE XXVIII
SECRETARIAL PERSONNEL

A. The secretarial work day will be as follows:
  1. The daily work hours will be seven and one-half (7 1/2) hours per day. The time sched­ule may vary but normal work hours will be from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. A lunch period of forty (40) minutes is part of the work day. Adjustment in time schedules may be modi­fied by the immediate supervisor, maintaining the seven and one-half (7 1/2) hour day. The last day of the work week will be seven (7) hours.
  2. Each secretary shall receive one (1) fifteen (15) minute break in the morning and one (1) fifteen (15) minute break in the afternoon per day. The time when the break occurs is subject to the approval of the immediate supervisor. Breaks will not be coupled with starting time, lunch time or quitting time.

3. Secretaries shall not be required to work on days school is closed for reasons of safety, such as weather conditions. If school should dismiss early for such reasons, employees will be permitted to leave. The day will be considered as a full day worked.

B. The secretarial work year will be as follows:

1. Contract periods:

  1. One hundred and ninety nine (199) day contracts are in effect from July 1st through June 30th, the work year shall follow the teacher’s schedule from the first day of school to the last day of school for teachers plus fifteen (15) work days between the last day of school in June and the first day of school for teachers in September. The fifteen (15) days shall be determined and assigned by the admin­istration prior to June 1st, for a one hundred and ninety nine (199) day work year.
  2. Twelve (12) month contracts are in effect from July 1st through June 30th.

2. The secretarial work year shall be all weekdays during the secretaries’ contract period with the exception of holidays designated on the school calendar.

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D. Vacations

      3. Twelve (12) month secretaries shall receive the following holidays in observance of:
      New Year’s Day
              Martin Luther King
              Lincoln’s Birthday
              Washington’s Birthday
              Good Friday
              Memorial Day
              Independence Day
              Labor Day
              Yom Kippur
              Thanksgiving Day
              Friday after Thanksgiving
              Christmas Day
              Any two (2) days between December 25 and January 1 with the Superintendent’s approval.
          1. The exact schedule for the observance of these holidays shall be set annually by the Board.
          2. Three (3) of these holidays (Columbus Day, Election Day, and Veterans Day) are “floating holidays”.
C. Overtime
      1. Overtime shall be paid or comp time granted for all hours authorized and worked in excess of thirty-seven and one-half (37 1/2) hours per week. The Fair Labor Standards Act provisions regarding overtime and comp time will apply.
      2. A secretary will be paid overtime for weekend work and be given four (4) hours guaran­teed minimum call-in pay on weekends.

      3. A rotation, based on seniority, shall be established for the assignment of overtime.
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D. Vacations
      1. Twelve (12) month secretarial employees will be granted vacation time according to the
      following schedule and provisions:
      Years of Completed Service
      Vacation Days
        1 through 5
      10
        6through 15
      15
        16 through 20
      20
        21 and over
      25
        1. Eligibility shall be computed as of July 1. Twelve (12) month employees are eligible for vacation after July 1 of the year following their employment. Twelve (12) month employ­ees who have not worked a full year will receive a prorated vacation based on the one (1) to five (5) year/ten (10) day vacation period.
        2. The two (2) weeks before the opening of school will not be used for vacation periods unless approved by the immediate supervisor and the Superintendent.
        3. An employee who requests extra vacation time and has it approved by the immediate supervisor and the Superintendent will have his/her salary reduced by the hourly rate multiplied by seven and one-half (7 1/2) times the number of work days missed.
        4. Upon leaving employment at Hunterdon County Polytech, any employee who has unused vacation days due him/her will be paid for such days at his/her regular rate of pay.

        6. A tentative vacation schedule must be filed by the employee prior to July 1. In the event of a schedule conflict, the secretary with the most seniority will be given first choice. A change in a request for vacation must be made fifteen (15) days prior to the date vaca­tion is to start. The employee shall receive a reply to such request within fifteen (15) working days.
    39
    D. Vacations
    ARTICLE XXIX

    TECHNICIAN PERSONNEL


    A. The technicians work day will be as follows:
        1. The daily work hours will be seven and one-half (7 1/2) hours per day. The time sched­ule will be flex time coordinated with the immediate supervisor,maintaining the seven and one-half (7 1/2) hour day. A lunch period of forty (40) minutes is part of the work day.
        2. Technicians shall not be required to work on days school is closed for reasons of safe­ty, such as weather conditions. If school should dismiss early for such reasons, employ­ees will be permitted to leave. The day will be considered as a full day worked.
        3 Technicians shall not be required to work in their assigned building when custodians or supervisors are not present in the building or on the campus, regardless if the custodi­ans are employees of Hunterdon County Polytech or the landlord. When custodians or supervisors are not present, secretaries can be temporarily reassigned to a building where custodians or supervisors are present.
    B. The technicians work year will be as follows:
        1. Contract periods:
            1. The work year for ten (10) month contract employees may vary from one employee to the next depending on the employee’s responsibilities and will be determined when the employee’s contract is negotiated.
            2. Twelve (12) month contracts are in effect from July 1st through June 30th.
        2. The technicians work year shall be all weekdays during the technicians’ contract period
        with the exception of holidays designated on the school calendar.
    40

    3. Twelve (12) month technicians shall receive fourteen (14) holidays in observance of:
    New Year’s Day

    Martin Luther King Lincoln’s Birthday Washington’s Birthday
    Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day
    Columbus Day Election Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day
    Friday after Thanksgiving
    Christmas Day
    1. The exact schedule for the observance of these holidays shall be set annually by
      the Board.
    2. Three (3) of these holidays (Columbus Day, Election Day, and Veterans Day) are
      “floating holidays”.
    3. “Floating holidays” for the purpose of this article are those holidays which fall when school is in session and shall be taken when school is not in session, fol­lowing the holiday.
    4. “Floating holidays” are to be scheduled with the approval of the Superintendent.

    C. Overtime

    1. Overtime shall be paid for all hours authorized and worked in excess of thirty-seven and one-half (37 1/2) hours per week. Overtime pay is one and one-half (1 1/2) times the hourly rate. Holidays, personal days, sick days, bereavement days, or any other paid absence from work will count as days worked in the computation of overtime. Overtime for technicians on a scheduled holiday and/or vacation day will be paid at two (2) times the hourly rate. In the event of no volunteers for overtime, the Board can mandate over­time.

    41

    1. Comp-time may be granted by the immediate supervisor in leu of overtime pay.

    2. A technician will be paid overtime for weekend work and be given four (4) hours guar-
    anteed minimum call-in pay on weekends.

    4. A rotation, based on seniority, shall be established for the assignment of overtime.

    D. Vacations

    1. Twelve (12) month technicians will be granted vacation time according to the following
    schedule and provisions:


    Years of Completed Service
    Vacation Days
      1 through 5
    12
      6through 12
    15
      13 through 20
    20
      21 and over
    25
    1. Eligibility shall be computed as of July 1. Twelve (12) month employees are eligible for vacation after July 1 of the year following their employment. Twelve (12) month employ­ees who have not worked a full year will receive a prorated vacation based on the one (1) to five (5) year/twelve (12) day vacation period.

    1. The two (2) weeks before the opening of school will not be used for vacation periods
    unless approved by the immediate supervisor and the Superintendent.
    1. An employee who requests extra vacation time and has it approved by the immediate supervisor and the Superintendent will have his/her salary reduced by the hourly rate multiplied by seven and one-half (7 1/2) times the number of work days missed.
    2. Upon leaving employment at Hunterdon County Polytech, any employee who has unused vacation days due him/her will be paid for such days at his/her regular rate of pay.

    6. A tentative vacation schedule must be filed by the employee prior to July 1. In the event of a schedule conflict, the secretary with the most seniority will be given first choice. A change in a request for vacation must be made fifteen (15) days prior to the date vaca­tion is to start. The employee shall receive a reply to such request within fifteen (15) working days.

    42

                          ARTICLE XXXI
                          ARTICLE XXXI
      EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL WORK YEAR/WORK DAY
    1. Educational Support Personnel shall work the same number of days as teachers.
    2. Educational Support Personnel shall work the length of the teacher day. Overtime shall be paid or comp time granted for all hours authorized and worked in excess of thirty-seven and one-half (37 1/2) hours per week. The Fair Labor Standards Act provisions regarding overtime and comp time will apply.
    3. The lunch period shall equal the teachers’ lunch period and shall be considered time worked in the calculation of pay.
    4. Educational Support Personnel shall receive a fifteen (15) minute break in the morning and a fifteen (15) minute break in the afternoon. The time the breaks occur shall be coordinated by the cooperating classroom teacher(s) and the supervisor. Breaks will not be coupled with starting time, lunch time or quitting time.
    43
                          ARTICLE XXXI
    SALARIES
    1. The salaries of all employees covered by this Agreement for the school years 2005-2008 are set forth in the attached schedules.
    2. Pay Days
        1. Employees employed on a ten (10) month basis shall be paid semi-monthly on the 15th and the last work day of the month.
        2. All ten (10) month employees have the following pay options:
            1. Twenty (20) equal semi-monthly payments from September 1 to June 30.
            2. Twenty-four (24) equal semi-monthly payments from September 1 to August 31. Twelve (12) month payment request form must be submitted by the last day of the school year.
        1. Employees employed on a twelve (12) month basis shall be paid in twenty-four (24) equal semi-monthly installments on the 15th and the last work day of the month.
        2. When a pay day falls on or during a holiday, a personal day or weekend, employees shall receive their paycheck on the last work day.
        5. Employees paid in twenty (20) semi-monthly installments shall receive their final checks
        on the last working day in June after all their obligations have been met.
    C. Eleven (11) Month Employees
        1. The salary will be calculated by dividing their ten (10) month salary by ten (10) to get a monthly salary and then adding a months salary to the ten (10) month salary and paid during the eleven (11) month.
        2. Eleven (11) month employees will work the school calendar plus twenty (20) additional days.
    44

    D. Lead Teacher
    1. The salary will be calculated by adding thirteen percent (13%) of his/her current year
      salary.

    1. The additional salary of the lead teacher will be prorated if a person is appointed to alead
    teacher position after the start of the school year.

    3. Lead teacher positions will consist of thirty-seven and one-half (37 1/2) hours per week. Released time equal to twelve and one-half (12 1/2) hours per week will be granted to carry out the duties of the lead teacher position.

    E. Salary Deductions

    1. Employees may individually elect to have a designated amount of their monthly salary deducted from their pay and deposited in the County Educators Federal Employee Credit Union. The Board’s responsibility shall be limited to forwarding a single check after each pay period covering the total amount to be deposited. It shall be the responsibility of the financial institution and the individual employee to maintain individual accounts. The check to the Credit Union will be mailed not later than the business day following each pay day.
    2. The Board will deduct state and local taxes assessed by New Jersey and Pennsylvania
      and forward those taxes to the appropriate governmental agencies.
    3. The Board will deduct, at an employee’s designation, funds for 403(b) programs. Transmission shall occur no later than the business day following each pay day. The Board shall have the right to limit the selection of such funds to the funds employees were enrolled in prior to their transfer to Hunterdon County Polytech. Employees wish­ing to open a new 403(b) account will be limited to a choice of five (5) funds, selected by mutual agreement between the Board and the Association.

    1. The board will deduct, at an employee’s designation, funds for a 529 College Tuition
    deduction program.
    1. The Board shall make direct deposit of employees’ paychecks, at the employee’s option, to the
      employee’s designated financial institution.
    2. Movement On Salary Guide

    1. Teachers who work ninety (90) or more days during the school year will be advanced to
    the next salary step for the following school year.

    45

        2. Teachers who complete graduate study or approved technical study, which results in movement on guide levels shall have their salaries adjusted in the month following the submission of official transcripts to the Superintendent.
    1. Salary schedules established to provide compensation for activities beyond the normal school
      day will be negotiated separately during the life of this Agreement.
    2. The compensation for teachers teaching beyond their contracted student contact hours will be calculated from the average teacher’s daily salary divided by seven and one-half (7 1/2) times the number of extra hours worked. The compensation will be added to the teacher’s regular salary.
    3. The compensation for Home Instruction shall be for time spent beyond the normal school day at the rate established in Schedule B for time spent in actual instruction. Home instruction teachers shall be reimbursed for mileage from the school to the student’s home and back to the school or to the teacher’s home, whichever is less, at the rate established for district employ­ees.
    4. Compensation for teachers that participate in mentoring programs or place students in a coop­erative education arrangement within the student’s occupational area shall be paid for that time beyond the normal school day to a maximum of three (3) hours per week, at the hourly rate established in Schedule B . Teachers shall be reimbursed for mileage from the school to the mentoring job site and back to the school or the teacher’s home, which-ever is less, at the rate established for district employees.

    L. Teachers employed for extra-curricular activities as set forth in Schedule B, will be paid on the last day of the school year. Club advisors will submit a semi-annual report recording the activ­ities, accomplishments, and hours they have spent with their club on December 1, and June 1. If the report is not submitted, payment will not be released.

    46

    ARTICLE XXXII




    SALARY SCHEDULES

    A. Schedules A - Teachers Guides
    2005-2006 Salary Guide

    Step
    Cert
    90/Cert
    BA
    1
    37,113
    37,358
    37,603
    2
    38,189
    38,441
    38,693
    3
    39,296
    39,555
    39,815
    4
    40,436
    40,703
    40,970
    5
    41,609
    41,884
    42,158
    6
    42,816
    43,099
    43,381
    7
    44,058
    44,349
    44,640
    8
    45,336
    45,635
    45,934
    9
    46,651
    46,959
    47,267
    10
    48,004
    48,321
    48,638
    11
    49,396
    49,722
    50,048
    12
    50,828
    51,163
    51,499
    13
    52,302
    52,647
    52,992
    14
    53,819
    54,174
    54,529
    15
    55,380
    55,746
    56,111
    16
    56,986
    57,362
    57,738
    17
    58,639
    59,026
    59,413
    18
    60,340
    60,738
    61,136
    19
    62,090
    62,500
    62,910
    20
    64,940
    65,369
    65,797

    47

    2006-2007 Salary Guide
    Step
      Cert
    90/Cert
    BA
    BA+15
    BA+30
    BA+45
    MA
    MA+15
    MA+30
    1
      38,010
    38,261
    38,512
    40,602
    41,895
    43,221
    44,593
    45,163
    45,734
    2
      39,112
    39,370
    39,628
    41,779
    43,109
    44,474
    45,886
    46,473
    47,060
    3
      40,246
    40,512
    40,777
    42,991
    44,359
    45,764
    47,217
    47,820
    48,424
    4
      41,413
    41,686
    41,960
    44,237
    45,645
    47,091
    48,586
    49,207
    49,828
    5
      42,614
    42,895
    43,177
    45,520
    46,969
    48,456
    49,995
    50,634
    51,273
    6
      43,850
    44,139
    44,429
    46,841
    48,331
    49,862
    51,445
    52,103
    52,760
    7
      45,122
    45,420
    45,718
    48,199
    49,733
    51,308
    52,937
    53,614
    54,291
    8
      46,431
    46,737
    47,044
    49,598
    51,176
    52,797
    54,473
    55,169
    55,866
    9
      47,778
    48,093
    48,409
    51,036
    52,661
    54,328
    56,053
    56,770
    57,486
    10
      49,164
    49,488
    49,813
    52,517
    54,189
    55,904
    57,679
    58,417
    59,154
    11
      50,590
    50,924
    51,258
    54,040
    55,760
    57,526
    59,352
    60,111
    60,870
    12
      52,057
    52,401
    52,744
    55,607
    57,377
    59,194
    61,073
    61,854
    62,635
    13
      53,567
    53,921
    54,274
    57,220
    59,042
    60,911
    62,845
    63,648
    64,452
    14
      55,120
    55,484
    55,848
    58,879
    60,753
    62,677
    64,667
    65,494
    66,320
    15
      56,718
    57,092
    57,467
    60,586
    62,515
    64,494
    66,542
    67,392
    68,243
    16
      58,363
    58,748
    59,133
    62,343
    64,328
    66,365
    68,471
    69,347
    70,222
    17
      60,056
    60,452
    60,849
    64,152
    66,194
    68,290
    70,458
    71,359
    72,259
    18
      61,798
    62,206
    62,614
    66,013
    68,114
    70,271
    72,501
    73,428
    74,355
    19
      63,590
    64,010
    64,429
    67,927
    70,089
    72,308
    74,604
    75,558
    76,511
    20
      66,490
    66,929
    67,368
    71,025
    77,151
    77,312
    78,006
    79,003
    80,001

    48

    2007-2008 Salary Guide

    Step
    Cert
    90/Cert
    BA
    BA+15
    BA+30
    BA+45
    MA
    MA+15
    MA+30
    1
    38,771
    39,027
    39,283
    41,415
    42,733
    44,087
    45,486
    46,068
    46,649
    2
    39,895
    40,158
    40,422
    42,616
    43,972
    45,365
    46,805
    47,403
    48,002
    3
    41,052
    41,323
    41,594
    43,852
    45,248
    46,680
    48,162
    48,778
    49,394
    4
    42,242
    42,521
    42,800
    45,123
    46,559
    48,033
    49,558
    50,192
    50,826
    5
    43,467
    43,754
    44,041
    46,431
    47,909
    49,426
    50,995
    51,647
    52,299
    6
    44,728
    45,023
    45,318
    47,778
    49,299
    50,860
    52,475
    53,146
    53,817
    7
    46,025
    46,329
    46,633
    49,164
    50,729
    52,335
    53,997
    54,687
    55,377
    8
    47,360
    47,673
    47,985
    50,590
    52,200
    53,853
    55,563
    56,273
    56,984
    9
    48,733
    49,055
    49,376
    52,057
    53,714
    55,414
    57,174
    57,905
    58,636
    10
    50,146
    50,477
    50,808
    53,566
    55,271
    57,021
    58,831
    59,583
    60,336
    11
    51,600
    51,941
    52,281
    55,119
    56,874
    58,674
    60,537
    61,311
    62,085
    12
    53,096
    53,446
    53,797
    56,717
    58,522
    60,375
    62,292
    63,089
    63,885
    13
    54,636
    54,997
    55,357
    58,362
    60,220
    62,127
    64,099
    64,918
    65,738
    14
    56,220
    56,591
    56,962
    60,054
    61,966
    63,928
    65,957
    66,801
    67,644
    15
    57,850
    58,232
    58,614
    61,795
    63,762
    65,781
    67,870
    68,737
    69,605
    16
    59,528
    59,921
    60,314
    63,588
    65,612
    67,689
    69,838
    70,731
    71,624
    17
    61,254
    61,658
    62,063
    65,432
    67,514
    69,652
    71,863
    72,782
    73,701
    18
    63,030
    63,446
    63,862
    67,329
    69,472
    71,671
    73,947
    74,892
    75,838
    19
    64,858
    65,286
    65,714
    69,281
    71,486
    73,750
    76,091
    77,064
    78,037
    67,725
    68,172
    68,619
    72,344
    78,386
    78,547
    79,455
    80,471
    81,487

    49

    B. Stipends - Schedule B
        Job descriptions will delineate the responsibilities for each position.
    Stipends 2005-2006
        Awards Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,862.00 per year Yearbook Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,065.00 per year District Wide FFA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,862.00 per year District Wide DECA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,862.00 per year District Wide FCCLA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,862.00 per year District Wide NV-THS Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,862.00 per year District Wide VICA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,761.00 per year Campus VICA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,065.00 per year Trade Related Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$266.00 per year Chaperone Beyond Job Description and Contracted Time . . . . . . . . . . .$132.00 per day Teacher Mentoring (year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$900.00 per year Teacher Mentoring (certified, year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$563.00 per year Teacher Mentoring (year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$394.00 per year
        Non-instructional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$35.00 per hour (activity chaperone, curriculum work, after-school supervision)

        Instructional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$45.00 per hour (summer school, home instruction, student mentoring/co-op supervision)

    50

    Stipends 2006-2007
        Awards Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,927.00 per year Yearbook Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,102.00 per year District Wide FFA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,927.00 per year District Wide DECA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,927.00 per year District Wide FCCLA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,927.00 per year District Wide NV-THS Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,927.00 per year District Wide VICA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,858.00 per year Campus VICA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,102.00 per year Trade Related Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$275.00 per year Chaperone Beyond Job Description and Contracted Time . . . . . . . . . . .$137.00 per day Teacher Mentoring (year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$931.00 per year Teacher Mentoring (certified, year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$582.00 per year Teacher Mentoring (year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$408.00 per year
        Non-instructional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$36.22 per hour (activity chaperone, curriculum work, after-school supervision)
        Instructional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$46.57 per hour (summer school, home instruction, student mentoring/co-op supervision)
    51

    Stipends 2007-2008
        Awards Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,995.00 per year Yearbook Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,141.00 per year District Wide FFA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,995.00 per year District Wide DECA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,995.00 per year District Wide FCCLA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,995.00 per year District Wide NV-THS Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,995.00 per year District Wide VICA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,958.00 per year Campus VICA Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,141.00 per year Trade Related Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$285.00 per year Chaperone Beyond Job Description and Contracted Time . . . . . . . . . . .$141.00 per day Teacher Mentoring (year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$963.00 per year Teacher Mentoring (certified, year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$602.00 per year Teacher Mentoring (year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$422.00 per year
        Non-instructional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$37.49 per hour (activity chaperone, curriculum work, after-school supervision)

        Instructional Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$48.19 per hour (summer school, home instruction, student mentoring/co-op supervision)

    52

    C. Schedule C - Secretarial

    Salary Guide 199 Day

    Guide

    Step


    Salary 2006-07
    Step

    Salary 2007-08
    Step Salary
    2005-06
    1
    23,818
    1
    24,994
    125,790
    2
    24,253
    2
    25,394
    226,190
    3
    24,713
    3
    25,794
    326,590
    4
    25,198
    4
    26,194
    426,990
    5
    25,708
    5
    26,594
    527,390
    6
    26,243
    6
    26,994
    627,790
    7
    26,803
    7
    27,394
    728,190
    8
    27,388
    8
    27,934
    828,590
    9
    27,998
    9
    28,499
    929,090
    10
    28,633
    10
    29,089
    1029,690
    11
    29,293
    11
    29,704
    1130,390
    12
    29,978
    12
    30,344
    1231,190

    53
    D. Schedule D -Technicianl
    Salary Guide
    Guide

    Step Salary

    2006-07

    Step

    Salary 2007-08
    Step Salary

    2005-06

    1
    49,702
    1
    49,702149,702
    2
    50,696
    2
    50,696250,696
    3
    51,710
    3
    51,710351,710
    4
    52,744
    4
    52,744452,744
    5
    53,799
    5
    53,799553,799
    6
    54,874
    6
    54,874654,874
    7
    55,972
    7
    55,972755,972
    8
    57,092
    8
    57,092857,092
    9
    58,233
    9
    58,233958,233
    10
    59,398
    10
    59,3981059,398
    11
    60,586
    11
    60,5861160,586
    12
    61,798
    12
    61,7981261,798

    54

    E. Schedule E - Educational Support Personnel Guide
    Salary Guide
    Step

    Salary 2006-07
    Step

    Salary 2007-08
    Step Salary
    2005-06
    1
    21,254
    1
    22,103
    122,932
    2
    21,785
    2
    22,656
    223,505
    3
    22,330
    3
    23,222
    324,093
    4
    22,888
    4
    23,803
    424,695
    5
    23,460
    5
    24,398
    525,312
    6
    24,046
    6
    25,008
    625,945
    7
    24,647
    7
    25,633
    726,594
    8
    25,263
    8
    26,274
    827,259
    9
    25,895
    9
    26,931
    927,940
    10
    26,542
    10
    27,604
    1028,639
    11
    27,206
    11
    28,294
    1129,355
    12
    27,886
    12
    29,001
    1230,089


    55
    ARTICLE XXXIV

    DURATION OF AGREEMENT

    1. All provisions of this Agreement are retroactive to July 1, 2005.
    2. This Agreement shall continue in effect until June 30, 2008, inclusive. This Agreement shall not be extended orally and it is expressly understood that it shall expire on the date indicated.
    3. Each party agrees to discuss and negotiate items of mutual concern before this Agreement expires. The items to be discussed and negotiated shall be presented in writing to the other party by October 15 and April 15.
    4. In WITNESS WHEREOF, the Association has caused this Agreement to be signed by its President and attested by its Secretary, and the Board has caused this Agreement to be signed by its President and attested by its Secretary.
                HUNTERDON COUNTY POLYTECH BOARD OF EDUCATION

                  President Date
    Secretary Date
    HUNTERDON POLYTECH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
                  President Date

                  Secretary Date

    56


    Hunterdon Cty Polytech BE and Hunterdon Cty Polytech EA 2005.pdf