Agreements Reached for 2008-2009

Article III, Section I, Non-Discrimination

[New language is noted in bold.]

There shall be no discrimination in the filling of positions, administrative or classroom or extracurricular because of race, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, color, age and/or disability. Nor shall an applicant for a position be discriminated against because of grade level taught where that experience is not requisite to the desired qualifications.

Article VI , [New] Section D — Parent-Teacher Conference

An alternate Parent-Teacher Conference schedule may be established by each school. Principals will consult with members of the faculty to arrive at mutually agreeable alternate dates and times for parent conferences. The alternate days must take place within the same payroll period as the Board scheduled date for Parent-Teacher Conferences. All faculty are required to be present on the alternate days and times so that parents may meet with all of the appropriate personnel without having to make multiple trips to school. Individually planned teacher schedules will not be accepted. In the event the faculty and the principal do not agree on an alternate schedule, the conference will be held on the date designated on the board-approved calendar.

The alternate Parent-Teacher Conference schedule must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning no later than the last school day in August. If no plan is submitted by that date, the school shall hold the conferences on the date on the board designated approved calendar.

Article VIII, Section E

[New paragraph will be inserted in existing section.]

Effective July 1, 2008, the Board agrees to allow year-for-year credit for experience on the Teacher Salary Schedule. In order for experience to be credited, it must be verified and accepted by the Tennessee Department of Education.

Effective July 1, 2008, all teachers affected by this change who are paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule will be advanced on the salary schedule to the step appropriate for all years of acceptable experience. In order for experience to be credited, it must be verified by the Tennessee Department of Education. Pay will only be retroactive to July 1, 2008.

Article VIII, [New] Section H. Differentiated Pay

[Subsequent Sections will be relettered.]

A. Algebra I Teachers

The Tennessee Board of Education has passed a new Employment Standard, which provides a path to teach Algebra I in grades 9-12 for any teacher holding any endorsement that includes grade 8 in its grade span (K-8, 4-8, K-12, 7-12, etc.) PROVIDED they complete a five-day, state-sponsored training session and pass Praxis exam 0069 - Middle School Mathematics. Therefore, the Board agrees to pay the registration fees and test costs for the Middle School Math Praxis test (0069) for any newly assigned MNPS teacher who makes the minimum score required for highly qualified status set by the Tennessee Department of Education.

In addition, for the 2008-2009 school year, any newly assigned teacher who meets the above qualifications and who teaches Algebra I at least 50% of the day in a high priority school in grades 7-9 shall receive a $4000 salary supplement.

B. Middle School Math Teachers

The Tennessee Board of Education has passed a new Employment Standard which provides a path to become highly qualified in mathematics for grades 7-8 for any teacher holding a K-8, 1-8, 4-8, or 1-9 endorsement and passes Praxis exam 0069 - Middle School Mathematics.

Therefore, the Board agrees to pay the registration fees and test costs for the Middle School Math Praxis test (0069) for any newly assigned MNPS teacher with the above endorsement who makes the minimum score required for highly qualified status set by the Tennessee Department of Education.

In addition, for the 2008-2009 school year, any newly assigned teacher who meets the above qualifications and who teaches math at least 50% of the day in a high priority school in grades 7-8 shall receive a $4000 salary supplement.

C. Math Teachers

For the 2008-2009 school year, the Board agrees to pay a one-time $4000 supplement to all newly hired and/or newly assigned teachers certified and highly qualified in 7-12 math who are assigned to teach that subject the major portion of the day in a high priority school in grades 7-12 at least 50% of the day.

D. ELL Teachers

For the 2008-2009 school year, the Board agrees to pay a one-time $4000 supplement to all newly hired and/or newly assigned teachers certified and highly qualified in ELL K-l2 who are assigned to teach that subject the major part of the day in a high priority school in grades K-12.

For any fully certified teacher who agrees to and is assigned to teach in an ELL program on a waiver, the Board agrees to reimburse at State university tuition levels, the cost of classes leading to an ELL endorsement. This reimbursement is applicable for coursework successfully completed from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

E. Special Education Teachers

For the 2008-2009 school year, the Board agrees to pay a one-time supplement of $4000 to newly hired and newly assigned fully certified special education teachers who meet the highly qualified requirements for the grade level and special education program assigned and who are assigned to a high priority school.

The Board agrees to pay the PRAXIS registration fee and test cost for any K-8 special education teacher or 9-12 life skills teacher who is fully certified in special education and who makes the minimum score for highly qualified status set by the State Department of Education on the Elementary Education Content PRAXIS test (011).

F. National Board Certification

[This provision will modify Section Q.]

The Board agrees to increase the supplement for National Board Certification from $2000 to $4000.

G. General Considerations

In order to be eligible for the supplement the following conditions must be met:

1. The teacher must teach the applicable subject the major portion of the day.

2. In order to be eligible for a supplement, a teacher must work a minimum of 80 days.

3. All supplements will be paid in two payments — one at the close of the first semester and one at the close of the second semester.

4. A teacher is eligible for only one of the differentiated pay supplements per year.

5. If the teacher retires or resigns before the close of the school year the supplement will be prorated for days actually worked.

6. No supplement will be paid for the duration of time the teacher is on unpaid leave.

National Center on Performance Incentives

A summary of the Vanderbilt Incentive Pay Project will be added to the appendix.

Guidelines for Notice of Concern

[To be added to appendix of the Educational Agreement.]

1. The Concern is shared by a group of professionals within a school, program, or division.

2. The Concern might or might not be a violation of the Educational Agreement.

3. The Association Representative will decide whether to take the Concern to the principal (or immediate supervisor) and/or the MNEA Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee.

4. The MNEA Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee will review the Statement of Concern and will decide to:

a. Determine the validity of the Concern,

b. Meet with the Principal or immediate Supervisor, and/or

c. File a Notice of Complaint with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

5. The Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources will refer the Complaint to the appropriate central office administrator. A written response will be issued to the MNEA within ten (10) school days following the receipt of the Notice of Complaint. This timeline may be extended by mutual agreement.

________________________________________________________

Notice of Concern

[Form to be included in Educational Agreement]

Statement of Concern:

Origin of Concern:

Briefly and concisely state the concern. Include specific dates and incidents, but not names, unless the teacher has agreed to have his or her name included.

What has been attempted at the building level to address this concern? Was there a meeting with the principal?

What was the result or why did the Association Representative not meet with the principal or immediate supervisor?

Date____________ Signature ____________

Association Representative

Recommendation of the MNEA Professional Rights and Responsibility Committee.

________________________________________________________

Notice of Complaint

[Form to be used by MNEA to move a “concern” to the next level.]

Origin of Complaint

What is the Complaint?

Was a policy, procedure or the Educational Agreement violated?

Who is affected?

What has been attempted?

What is requested?

Filed ______________ Signature ______________
MNEA President