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Non-Classroom Staff, and Inclusion of EA's and Substitutes

Non-Classroom Staff, and Inclusion of EA's and Substitutes

Collaborative Planning: Non-Classroom Professionals & Inclusion of EA's and Substitutes

Which employees are considered non-classroom professionals?
Many non-classroom professionals are assigned to multiple schools. How are the hours they spend at each school determined?
Are alternative collaborative planning activities being offered to non-classroom professionals in 2007-08?
How should non-classroom professionals determine which 12 hours of paid collaborative planning activities they are to attend?
May non-classroom professionals receive additional pay if they participate in more than 12 hours of collaborative planning activities?
How do teachers who are not assigned to a school engage in collaborative planning time?
May educational assistants be included in collaborative planning sessions?
May substitute teachers be included in collaborative planning sessions?

Which employees are considered non-classroom professionals?: The three largest groups of “non-classroom professionals” are: speech pathologists, diagnostic teachers, and school social workers.

Other employees also fit this description such as: OTs, PTs, itinerant teachers (for example, those serving deaf and hard of hearing students), TEAM program mentors, literacy specialists, nurses, itinerant ELL teachers, home and hospital teachers, etc.
Many non-classroom professionals are assigned to multiple schools. How are the hours they spend at each school determined?: Non-classroom professionals assigned to multiple schools should coordinate the hours they participate in school-based collaborative planning activities with the principal of each school. Decisions as to which hours to participate in at each school should provide non-classroom professionals with the best opportunities for collaborative planning.
Are alternative collaborative planning activities being offered to non-classroom professionals in 2007-08?: There is a wide variety of views on how non-classroom professionals can best use their 12 hours of collaborative planning time. There will be different approaches, depending on the group. For example, some non-classroom professionals will have options to split the time – six hours at their school(s) and six hours with their professional group.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer as to which collaborative planning activities are most appropriate for the non-classroom professionals who work at your school.
How should non-classroom professionals determine which 12 hours of paid collaborative planning activities they are to attend?: Each non-classroom professional should review all of the activities available to them at their school(s) and those offered specifically for their unique professional group.

After determining which 12 hours of activities are most appropriate, non-classroom professionals should inform their principal(s) and supervisor of the specific dates, hours, and locations for the 12 hours they’ve selected for 2007-08 no later than October 12.
May non-classroom professionals receive additional pay if they participate in more than 12 hours of collaborative planning activities?: No! By contract, all teacher bargaining unit members, both classroom teachers and non-classroom professionals, are eligible for 12 hours of pay for participating in collaborative planning activities during 2007-08 – no more, no less.

Non-classroom professionals will not receive more than the negotiated 12 hours of pay – even if they voluntarily attend more than the required 12 hours through a combination of activities at their school(s) and within their unique professional group.
How do teachers who are not assigned to a school engage in collaborative planning time?: The basic parameter is that all teachers should engage in 12 hours of paid collaborative planning time a year. A common sense approach should be taken to accommodate various situations.

For example, a day-to-day teacher who is not permanently assigned to a school but is working there on a long-term basis should participate, with pay, in the school’s collaborative planning sessions.

For a few individuals, there may be no opportunities for meaningful conversations at a school. In this situation, there may be an appropriate grouping that is not school based. With prior authorization from their supervisor, these teachers should engage in 12 hours of collaborative planning appropriate to their assignments.
May educational assistants be included in collaborative planning sessions?: Based on the content of the sessions and the school’s needs, the learning team should consider including EAs.

Participation would be paid and voluntary on the part of the EA.

District funds are not available, so the extra cost would be paid from the school’s budget. If the learning team decides that participation of EAs would benefit the school, the fiscal decision rests with the principal who is held accountable for the budget.

The principal is also responsible for complying with the EA contract in offering the extra paid hours. EA participation would be by seniority among those “qualified to perform the work.” Overtime pay (beyond eight hours in a day) may also be required.
May substitute teachers be included in collaborative planning sessions?: Principals are responsible for this determination. If a substitute just happens to be assigned to a school on a day when a planning takes place, it would not be appropriate.

Substitutes at a school on a long-term basis, who participate in faculty meetings, should be invited to participate in planning sessions.

Participation would be paid and voluntary on the part of the substitute teacher.

District funds are not available, so the extra cost would be paid from the school’s budget.

Questions?

If teachers have further questions about collaborative planning, they should contact an MTEA staff member at 414-259-1990.

If principals have questions, they should contact the MPS Labor Relations Department at 475-8280.