Burlington School District, Vermont

Compensation - Fringe Benefits questions

Health and Wellness
What is the maximum portion of the employee's health insurance premium paid by the employer?	83% p. 51, Sec. III, Art. 22.1.(b). Past Policy 85% p. 51, Sec. III, Art. XXII, 22.1, (b). Past Policy 85% p. 49, Sec. III. Art. 22.1(b) & (c). Past Policy 85% The Board pays 15% of the premium for those teaching opting to participate in the VEHI Plan and will contribute the same monetary amount for those teachers opting to participate in the JY Plan B. p. 49, Sec. III. Art. 22.1(b) & (c).
What is the maximum portion of the employee's dependents' health insurance premium paid by the employer?	83% p. 51, Sec. III, Art. 22.1.(b). Past Policy 85% p. 51, Sec. III, Art. XXII, 22.1, (b). Past Policy issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents p. 51, Sec. III, Art. XXII, 22.1. Past Policy issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents p. 49, Sec. III. Art. 22.1(b) & (c). Past Policy issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents p. 49, Sec. III. Art. 22.1(b) & (c).
Does the employer specify a dollar cap for the portion of the premium they cover? If so, what is the cap?	no, a percentage (83%) is specified p. 51, Sec. III, Art. 22.1.(b).
Pensions/Retirement
Are there incentives for a teacher to take early retirement?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
By what date must a teacher give notification that he/she intends to resign or retire?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents District reports that teachers must give notification by May 3. No citation given or found.
Does the district offer an incentive to the teacher who notifies the district before the deadline that he/she intends to resign/retire at the end of the school year?	Yes , a teacher in good standing who gives notice no later than the date of return of teacher contracts and who has completed 15 years of service in the district will receive 1/4 of their accumulated sick leave In addition to the above, a teacher with 15 years of continuous service and who is either 55 or has 30 years of public teaching experience and who gives notice no later than the date of return of teacher contracts, are eligible for health insurance coverage (district will cover 50% though age 62). p. 42, Sec. III, Art. 19.10 & p. 52, Sec. III, Art. 22.6.
Is there a penalty for a teacher who fails to notify the district that he/she intends to resign/retire by the district's deadline?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents District reports yes, s/he may not be released from contract. No citation given or found.
Can a teacher receive payment for unused sick leave at retirement? How much?	Yes 1/3 of accumulated leave (up to 190 days) at daily rate Eligible teachers are those who have had continuous employment (or employment interrupted only by authorized leaves of absence) in such capacity for the Burlinglon School Department and whose period of continuous employment commences during or before September, 1977. p. 42, Art. 19.9.
Can a teacher receive payment for unused personal leave at retirement? How much?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Tuition Reimbursement
Is tuition reimbursement offered to teachers?	Yes pp. 40 & 41, Sec. III, Art. 19.1 & 19.7, & p. 79, App. M.
Can a teacher receive financial support to cover National Board certification fees?	issue not addressed in the scope of NCTQ reviewed documents

Calendar questions

School Year
STUDENTS: How many days are students in school?	177
STUDENTS: How many hours, minimum, are students scheduled to be in school each year?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
TEACHERS: How many days are teachers in school?	187
TEACHERS: How many days is the teacher required to be on-site without students? (including half or partial days)	Elementary: 10.5; secondary: 11 Past Policy elementary: 10.5; secondary: 11.5 In addition to the counts listed here, BHS, SA, IAA, Champlain, EES, EMS, Fynn, Smith, and Hunt schools have one additional professional development day where teachers are on-site without students. Past Policy 11 Past Policy elementary: 11; secondary:10 Past Policy 9 Past Policy elementary: 9; secondary: 7 Past Policy 7 2011-2012 School Year Calendar Past Policy 9 2010-2011 School Year Calendar Past Policy 9 2009-2010 School Year Calendar Past Policy 9 2008-2009 School Year Calendar
School Day
How long is the school day for elementary students?	elementary: 6 hours, 40 minutes (M, T, Th, F) (total); 5 hours, 40 minutes (W) (total); middle: 7 hours, 5 minutes (M, T, Th, F) (total), 6 hours, 55 minutes - 7 hours, 5 minutes (W) (total)
How long is the school day for secondary students?	6 hours, 55 minutes (M, T, Th, F) (total); 6 hours, 10 minutes (W) (total)
How long is the scheduled workday for teachers? (total time scheduled on-site, including lunch)	no longer than 7 hours, 45 minutes p. 18, Art. 8.7.
How much time is the teacher required to be on-site beyond the length of the student day? (This does not include time for meetings)	30 minutes (15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the student day) p. 19, Art. 8.8.
Preparation Time
How much planning time does an elementary teacher receive?	not less than forty-five (45) continuous minutes a day The Board shall employ best good faith efforts to ensure that such 45 continuous minutes occur within the student day. p. 14, Art. 6.6.(a) & (b).
How much planning time does a secondary teacher receive?	not less than one block per day p. 14, Art. 6.6.(c).
How much teacher planning time is designated for collaborative planning?	elementary: not specified; middle: 1.5 hours per week; secondary: 1 hour per week Professional learning communities or substantially equivalent collaborations may be established by principals of the school district. p. 19, Art. 8.9.(b).

Class Size questions

Class Size Restrictions
What are the class size restrictions?	PK: issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents; K-1: 27; 2-3: 29; 4-12: 32 District reports that class size restrictions are defined by licensing according to room size and adults for PreK and are not defined for other grade levels. No citation given or found. p. 13, Sec. II, Art. 6.3.a & b.
What happens when the class size limit is exceeded?	Other teacher may file a grievance p. 13, Sec. II, Art. 6.3.c.

Compensation - Salary questions

Structure of the Salary Schedule
What type of salary schedule is in use?	Traditional salary schedule (step and lane)
What is the average percent increase in pay earned for each additional year of experience?	0% due to step freeze (3.3% without a step freeze) Past Policy 3.4% Past Policy 3.4% Past Policy 3.6% Past Policy bachelor's lane: 4.09%; master's lane: 4.59% Past Policy bachelor's lane: 3.27%; master's lane: 4.59%
Teachers in most districts earn a raise for each additional year of experience and an annual adjustment for cost of living and other factors. What is that average annual adjustment? (reported as a percentage of change from the previous year)	3.4% Past Policy 3.0% Past Policy 2.9% Past Policy 3.1% Past Policy 1.37% Past Policy 1.23% Past Policy 2.4% 2008-2009 Salary Schedule, 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 2.7% 2007-2008 Salary Schedule, 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the average total change in salary accounting for both earning an additional year of experience and an annual adjustment for cost of living and other factors? (reported as the percentage of change from the previous year)	3.4% with step freeze (6.9% without a step freeze) Past Policy 6.5% Past Policy 6.6% Past Policy 7.1% Past Policy 5.8% Past Policy 5.2% Past Policy current salary schedule not available
What is the average difference between the master's and bachelor's salary?	$10,226 Past Policy $9,954 Past Policy $9,240 Past Policy 8,415 Past Policy 6,581 Past Policy 6,491 Past Policy 6,346 2009-2010 Salary Schedule
How many lanes (or columns) based on advanced degrees or credit attainment are on the teacher's salary schedule?	8: BA, BA+15, BA+36, BA+51, BA+66, MA, MA+15, MA+30 Past Policy 5: BA, BA+15, BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15, BA+66/MA+30 Teachers with a bachelor's degree and additional credits top out at a lower salary than those with master's degree on the BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15 and BA+66/MA+30 lanes. Past Policy 5: BA, BA+15, BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15, BA+66/MA+30 Teachers with a bachelor's degree and additional credits top out at a lower salary than those with master's degree on the BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15 and BA+66/MA+30 lanes. Past Policy 5: BA, BA+15, BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15, BA+66/MA+30 Teachers with a bachelor's degree and additional credits top out at a lower salary than those with master's degree on the BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15 and BA+66/MA+30 lanes. Past Policy 8: BA, BA+15, BA+36, MA, BA+51, MA+15, BA+66, MA+30 Past Policy 8: BA, BA+15, BA+36, MA, BA+51, MA+15, BA+66, MA+30 Past Policy 8: BA, BA+15, BA+36, MA, BA+51, MA+15, BA+66, MA+30 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 5: BA, BA+15, BA+36/MA, BA+51/MA+15, BA+66/MA+30 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
In what year of service will a teacher with a bachelor's and/or master's degree reach the maximum salary (assuming no step freezes)?	Bachelor's lane: 7; Master's lane: 12 In 2016-2017, there is a step freeze; thus, resulting in teachers taking an additional year before reaching the maximum salary.
Annual Salary
What is the annual salary for a fully certified, first year teacher with a bachelor's degree?	$43,565 Past Policy $41,892 Past Policy $40,846 Past Policy 39,854 Past Policy 38,740 Past Policy 38216 Past Policy 37,363 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 36,487 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the annual salary for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience?	$51,930 There is a step freeze in 2016-2017. Past Policy $50,257 Past Policy $48,666 Past Policy 47,149 Past Policy 46,275 Past Policy 45,649 Past Policy 44,630 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 43,584 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the annual salary for a teacher with a bachelor's degree on the highest step of the salary schedule?	$55,276 There is a step freeze in 2016-2017. Past Policy $53,603 Past Policy $53,209 Past Policy 53,209 Past Policy 53,209 Past Policy 52,490 Past Policy 51,318 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 50,115 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the annual salary for a fully certified, first year teacher with a master's degree?	$50,229 Past Policy $48,284 Past Policy $46,468 Past Policy 44,722 Past Policy 42,614 Past Policy 42,038 Past Policy 41,099 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 40,136 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the annual salary for a teacher with a master's degree and 5 years of experience?	$59,954 There is a step freeze in 2016-2017. Past Policy $58,009 Past Policy $56,253 Past Policy 54,577 Past Policy 51,234 Past Policy 50,541 Past Policy 49,412 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 48,254 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the annual salary for a teacher with a master's degree on the highest step of the salary schedule?	$73,569 There is a step freeze in 2016-2017. Past Policy $71,624 Past Policy $69,952 Past Policy 68,374 Past Policy 66,633 Past Policy 65,732 Past Policy 64,264 2009-2010 Salary Schedule Past Policy 62,758 2008-2009 Salary Schedule
What is the maximum annual salary available to teachers? What are the education requirements for this salary? In what year of service will a teacher receive this salary?	$84,750; MA+30; 15 In 2016-2017, there is a step freeze; thus, resulting in teachers taking an additional year before reaching the maximum salary. Past Policy $82,792; BA+66/MA+30; 15 Past Policy $80,254; MA+30; 15 Past Policy 77,821; MA+30; 15 Past Policy 77,480; MA+30; 16 Past Policy 76,432; MA+30; 14 Past Policy 76,432; MA+30; 14
Performance Pay
Is annual salary increase tied to evaluation rating?	Yes p. 12, Sec. II, Art. 5.7. p. 2.
If an annual salary increase is tied to evaluation rating, how do annual salary increases work?	Other step freeze for a teacher who does not meet the Competencies of Professional Practice p. 12, Sec. II, Art. 5.7. p. 2.
Aside from annual salary increases, are other aspects of a teacher’s pay based on evaluation rating?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Do teachers earn performance pay for factors other than evaluation ratings?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Other Differentiated Pay
Can a teacher earn additional pay by working in a school classified as "high-needs"?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can a teacher earn additional pay by teaching subjects deemed 'hard to staff'?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can a teacher who has National Board certification earn additional pay?	yes, a $1,200 annual stipend p. 44, Sec. III, Art. 19.20.(a).
What compensation is offered to a teacher who serves as a department head at the secondary level?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
General Salary Information
Are uncertified teachers paid less than fully certified teachers?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can a teacher get credit on the salary schedule for subject-related work experience? How many years of experience are awarded for subject-related experience?	yes, the Superintendent may recognize and give credit for relevant work experience for certain positions; amount of credit not specified p. 38, Sec. III, Art. 18.4.
Are teachers eligible for a longevity bonus? If so, in what year(s) of service is a teacher eligible?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents

Dismissal questions

Dismissals
Following an unsatisfactory final evaluation, how much time must a tenured teacher (or annual contract where tenure nonexistent) be in formal remediation before s/he may be dismissed or non-renewed at the end of the school year?	Remediation timeframe case by case (dismissal allowed) Teacher may be placed in remediation ("Focused Assistance") at any time during the year. If s/he remains unsatisfactory at the end of the year, s/he may be placed in remediation during the following year or the teacher may be non-renewed. p. 7.
What is the process for dismissal of an ineffective teacher?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Does a nontenured teacher have any recourse if his/her contract is not renewed?	no district reports no, no citation given p. 11, Sec. II, Art. 5.1(a).
By what date must a nontenured teacher be notified of non-renewal of his/her contract?	March 1 unless teacher is working under a remediation plan in which case, notice must be given by June 1 The deadlines are specifically for teachers being non-renewed for performance reasons. p. 12, Sec. II, Art. 5.7.
When must a tenured teacher be notified of his/her dismissal?	March 1 unless teacher is working under a remediation plan in which case, notice must be given by June 1 The deadlines are specifically for teachers being non-renewed for performance reasons. p. 12, Sec. II, Art. 5.7.

Evaluation questions

Evaluation System
What is the teacher required to be evaluated on?	Professional development plan ("Goal attainment/action plan") Professional practice (non-tenured and 1st year tenure only)(Planning and preparation, Classroom environment, Instruction, Professional responsibilities) pp. 3, 5 & 6.
Do impartial third parties from outside the school serve as evaluators?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Is peer review a component of teacher evaluation; what is the nature of the review?	No pp. 4, 6 & 7.
Does the evaluation include student input?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
What kind of feedback does a teacher receive following a formal observation(s)?	Written report, conference upon request p. 11, Sec. II, Art. 5.2.
What kind of feedback must the teacher receive following an evaluation?	Conference with evaluator pp. 4, 6 & 7.
How many categories of ratings are there?	following an evaluation, in lieu of an overall rating, the supervisor recommends the teacher for: renewal; intensive supervision; focused assistance-held on step; non-renewal Individual competencies are rated: does not meet competencies, basic understanding, proficient. p. 12, Final Summative Evaluation form.
Are evaluators required to give notice of an observation?	Yes p. 2.
Role of Student Achievement in Teacher Evaluation
How is student growth/achievement calculated for teachers of tested subjects?	n/a
How is student achievement/growth calculated for teachers of non-tested subjects?	n/a pp. 6 & 15.
Evaluation Requirements for non-tenured Teachers
How frequently do non-tenured teachers receive an evaluation rating?	Once a year p. 9.
What is the minimum number of times a non-tenured teacher must be observed during the evaluation?	4 times in years one and possibly year two, 2 times in year two If the teacher is in "intensive supervision" (1st and, possibly, 2nd year), s/he is observed 4 times. If the teacher is in "ongoing supervision" (2nd year), s/he is observed 2 times. p. 9.
What is the deadline for the first formal observation of the non-tenured teacher?	2 observations by Dec. 15 for teachers in first two years; 1 observation by Dec. 15 for 3rd year non-tenured teacher p. 9.
What is the deadline for the final evaluation of the non-tenured teacher?	March 1 p. 9.
What is the required minimum length of the formal observation for a non-tenured teacher?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents district reports "not defined", no citation given
Evaluation Requirements for Tenured Teachers
How frequently do tenured teachers receive an evaluation rating?	Once a year Teachers in their 1st yr. of tenure are on Ongoing Supervision (2 obs + goal setting). pp. 2-5.
What is the minimum number of times a tenured teacher must be observed during the evaluation?	1st year of tenure - 2 observations; 2nd+ year of tenure, 0 - unless a teacher's performance is unsatisfactory, s/he not subject to observations p. 4.
What is the deadline for the first formal observation of the tenured teacher?	December 15 for 1st year tenured teachers Satisfactorily evaluated tenured teachers beyond the first year of tenure are not subject to observations. p. 9.
What is the deadline for the final evaluation of the tenured teacher?	end of school year p. 9.
What is the minimum length of a tenured teacher's formal observation?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Consequences of a Negative Evaluation
Following an unsatisfactory final evaluation, how much time must a tenured teacher (or annual contract where tenure nonexistent) be in formal remediation before s/he may be dismissed or non-renewed at the end of the school year?	Remediation timeframe case by case (dismissal allowed) Teacher may be placed in remediation ("Focused Assistance") at any time during the year. If s/he remains unsatisfactory at the end of the year, s/he may be placed in remediation during the following year or the teacher may be non-renewed. p. 7.
Does the district assign a mentor or support team to the teacher in remediation?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
How many classroom observations (minimum) are required during remediation?	Observations required, number not specified teacher shall be formally observed and, in addition, there will be multiple classroom visitations by administrator pp. 7 & 8.
How long is the remediation process?	case-by-case, up to 1 year Teacher may be placed in remediation ("Focused Assistance") at any time during the year. If s/he remains unsatisfactory at the end of the year, s/he may be placed in remediation during the following year. pp. 7 & 8.
Can the teacher file a grievance or formally appeal an evaluation rating if there are no acknowledged procedural violations?	Other yes, if the teacher is aggrieved by an adverse evaluation District reports that a teacher cannot file a grievance or formally appeal an evaluation rating if there are no acknowledged procedural violation. No citation given. A teacher aggrieved by any such adverse evaluation may request a hearing before the Board of School Commissioners, which hearing shall be public or closed at the option of the teacher. If the Board should determine that just cause for such adverse evaluation did not exist, such evaluation shall be null and void and be expunged from all personnel records. The question of evaluations under this Article shall not be subject to arbitration under this Agreement. p. 11, Art. V
Can a teacher request a second evaluation from a different evaluator?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents district reports no, no citation given

Layoffs questions

Layoffs
Must nontenured teachers be laid off before tenured?	Yes p. 25, Sec. III, Art. 11.1.c).
Aside from program and staffing needs, what are the criteria for laying off teachers?	Seniority is the sole criterion. p. 25, Sec. III, Art. 11.1.c).
In the case of a layoff, is seniority determined at the school level or district level?	District level p. 25, Sec. III, Art. 11.1.c).
What is the notification deadline for teacher layoffs?	March 28 or within 2 days after the second board meeting if it occurs on or after March 28 p. 25, Sec. III, Art. 11.1.a).
When the district needs to hire new teachers, are laid off teachers either given recall rights or preference?	Yes-mandatory recall of all teachers in inverse order of layoffs p. 33, Sec. III, Art. 15.1.a).
How long does a laid off teacher retain recall rights?	2 years p. 34, Sec. III, Art 15.1.g).

Leave questions

Sick & Personal Leave
What is the total possible number of paid general leave days (sick, personal, and other days used for personal reasons) a teacher can get each year?	24 (20 sick, 4 personal) Teachers are given 155 school hours of personal leave (calculated as 155 total hours / 7 hour, 45 minute school day = 20 days). Teachers are given 31 school hours of personal leave (calculated as 31 total hours / 7 hour, 45 minute school day = 4 days). p. 53, Art. 23.1.(a) & 23.2.(a).
What is the total number of paid sick and personal days a teacher gets each year?	24 (20 sick, 4 personal) Teachers are given 155 school hours of personal leave (calculated as 155 total hours / 7 hour, 45 minute school day = 20 days). Teachers are given 31 school hours of personal leave (calculated as 31 total hours / 7 hour, 45 minute school day = 4 days). p. 53, Art. 23.1.(a) & 23.2.(a).
Can unused sick days carry over from one year to the next?	Yes p. 53, Art. 23.2.(a).
Can unused personal days carry over from one year to the next?	No p. 53, Art. 23.1.(a).
What is the maximum number of sick days a teacher can accumulate?	190 p. 53, Art. 23.2.(a).
After how many days of absence does a teacher have to provide medical documentation for sick leave?	5 p. 53, Art. 23.2.(a).
Professional Development Leave
Is there additional paid leave for any professional development not already scheduled and required by the district? How much?	Yes paid professional leave (number of days not specified) Sabbatical leave is mentioned (p. 56, Art. 23.13), but no details are given regarding length and payment during the leave. p. 55, Art. 23.5.
Other Leave
Apart from general leave (sick, personal, and other leave for personal reasons) and professional development, what other types of paid leave does the district offer?	bereavement (3-5 days); jury duty; military (district acknowledges state law) Teachers are given 23.25 school hours of personal leave (calculated as 23.25 total hours / 7 hour, 45 minute school day = 3 days). Up to 15.5 additional school hours may be granted by the Administration to allow for travel (5 days). p. 53, Art. 23.1.(b) & p. 57, Art. 23.15. Board Policy D 15: http://bsdweb.bsdvt.org/Board/BoardPolicy.php
Is leave available for a teacher to attend union associated activities (not counting leave given to elected union representatives)?	yes, 77.5 hours to be shared district-wide p. 55, Art. 23.5.(b).
Attendance Incentives
When are leave days restricted or subject to refusal?	vacation; to extend a school break; any day after Memorial Day; when teacher gives less than 24 hours notice of leave p. 53, Art. 23.1.(a).
Can a teacher earn additional pay or leave days for demonstrating good job attendance? How much?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can a teacher receive payment for unused sick leave at the end of each school year? How much?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can a teacher receive payment for unused personal leave at the end of each school year? How much?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can a teacher receive payment for unused sick leave at retirement? How much?	Yes 1/3 of accumulated leave (up to 190 days) at daily rate Eligible teachers are those who have had continuous employment (or employment interrupted only by authorized leaves of absence) in such capacity for the Burlinglon School Department and whose period of continuous employment commences during or before September, 1977. p. 42, Art. 19.9.
Can a teacher receive payment for unused personal leave at retirement? How much?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents

Professional Development questions

General
Is there additional paid leave for any professional development not already scheduled and required by the district? How much?	Yes paid professional leave (number of days not specified) Sabbatical leave is mentioned (p. 56, Art. 23.13), but no details are given regarding length and payment during the leave. p. 55, Art. 23.5.
How long is the mentorship program for a new teacher?	2 years Board Policy D 21: http://bsdweb.bsdvt.org/Board/BoardPolicy.php
How long is the standard orientation that the district provides for new teachers?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents

Tenure questions

Role of Tenure on Teacher Assignment and Employment
What is the minimum number of years of experience that a teacher must have in a district before tenure is granted?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Can the district decide to extend the nontenured period if the principal is uncertain that the teacher should receive tenure?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents

Transfer & Assignment questions

Transfers
Are internal transfers given priority over new hires for vacant positions?	no p. 28, Sec. III, Art. 13.1.d).
Are principals and/or site selection committees allowed to select voluntary transfer applicants to hire? If not, then how are voluntary transfers assigned to schools?	issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents
Separate from excessing, does the district allow school or district administrators to involuntarily transfer a teacher to another school? If so, for what reasons is he/she allowed to initiate such a transfer?	yes, "best interest" of district p. 29, Sec. III, Art. 13.2.a).
Identifying Involuntary Transfers Due to Excessing
Are teachers identified for excessing in reverse order of seniority?	Seniority is only one of the factors considered. p. 29, Sec. III, Art. 13.2.b).
How are teachers identified for excessing?	multiple criteria applied in order: #1-areas of licensure, #2-areas of competence, #3-length of service in district, #4-experience by grade or subject, #5-other relevant factors p. 29, Sec. III, Art. 13.2.b).
Placing Excessed Teachers
How are excessed teachers assigned to schools?	Central office places teachers but method of placement is not clearly stated. p. 29, Sec. III, Art. 13.2.a)
If excessed teachers are not hired by mutual consent, what happens if there are no available openings?	Issue not addressed in scope of NCTQ reviewed documents

Contract Waivers questions

Waivers
Is there a system in place to accept waivers or variance provisions for portions of or the entire collective-bargaining agreement?	Yes p. 9, Art. 4.21.(a).
Do teachers have a vote in a request for a waiver?	yes; 80% of eligible participants must vote in support of the proposed waiver It is assumed that "eligible participants" means teacher union members. p. 10, Art. 4.21.(c).(4).
What requirements must be met for a waiver of contract provisions to be approved?	2 meetings with waiver sponsor and eligible members of the building/program faculty; 80% approval vote of eligible voting participants; approval of association and principal pp. 9 & 10, Art. 4.21.(c).