GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING THE
2001-02 MANDATORY STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS
August 31, November 9, 2001, and February 19, 2002

 Please follow the instructions below to ensure accurate payment from the state to the district and accurate payment to the eligible unit members.  These provisions also apply to charter schools that are not using the Charter School Funding Model pursuant to AB544.

1.   The three staff development days are part of the work year for all employees in the certificated bargaining unit (i.e., teachers, counselors, psychologists, nurses, central office resource teachers, etc.).  To avoid loss of pay, each school/department assigned staff from the certificated bargaining unit must ensure that staff has the opportunity at their school, or within their department, to work three staff development days.

2.   Principals should begin planning the agenda for the staff development days based on the focus of the district.  Principals should plan on sharing their agendas with their instructional leader in advance of the staff development days. 

3.      Division/department heads shall develop an agenda regarding the content for the staff development activities.  The state requires that the agenda must focus on instructional methods, including: 

a.      teaching strategies;

b.     classroom management and other training designed to improve pupil performance; and/or

c.      academic content in the core curriculum areas (literacy, mathematics, history/social science, and science).

4.   The school or site must then conduct staff development activities consistent with the plan and agenda.

5.   Each site must have all certificated unit members sign in for each day of attendance using the attached sign-in form.  A separate form must be used for each staff development day.  Failure to sign in may result in a loss of pay to the unit member!  Please ensure that all unit members indicate their status (i.e., certificated classroom teacher, “other” certificated or less than 100 percent contract) on the sign-in form.

6.   Unit members must be present for the full staff development day which must be at least as long as the contract day (six hours and thirty-five minutes).  Unit members who are not present for the full contract day without a valid excuse (per Article 8 of the collective negotiations contract) may lose a day of pay.  There will be no make-up day opportunities for unit members who are absent for reasons other than illness or injury (as documented by a medical doctor’s note which must be attached to the timesheet) or bereavement.

7.   Certificated unit members who are assigned a part-time contract or are in job-share or reduced workload status are eligible to participate in staff development activities.  Unit members on part-time contracts or in job-share or reduced workload status must attend for the full day of staff development in order for the district to receive payment from the state.

a.   Staff Development Day on Unit Member’s Regular Workday:  If the staff development day is scheduled on the unit member’s regular workday, the unit member must attend or they will lose one day of pay (unless valid excuse as described in Article 8 is presented).  An A-11 timecard is to be completed for any time worked (by attending a staff development day activity) in excess of the regular workday (e.g., a 60 percent part-time contract teacher who attends a staff development day on a regular workday, and is scheduled to work only 60 percent of the day, should submit a timecard for the additional 40 percent of the workday).  Important:   Write “Extended Year Staff Development” on the timecard and leave the budget number blank.

b.   Staff Development Day on Unit Member’s Non-Workday:  If the staff development day is scheduled on a non-workday, the part-time contract or job-share or reduced workload unit member may attend, and will be compensated for a full day of pay.  All part-time, job-share or reduced workload status unit members should submit a timecard for a full day of compensation per full day of attendance.  Important:  Write “Extended Year Staff Development” on the timecard and leave the budget number blank.

8.   Visiting teachers at your site are not required to attend staff development activities.  If the site administrator elects to include a particular visiting teacher in staff development activities, an A-1 timecard must be submitted per the attached guidelines.  Important:   Write “Extended Year Staff Development” on the timecard and use the following budget charge number:  (Site Cost Center)-AA-1162-0998.

9.   Send the sign-in sheets, agenda, and any timecards (for visiting teachers, part-time contract and/or job-share or reduced workload unit members who participate in staff development) to Edward Morris, Eugene Brucker Education Center, Room 3209, as soon as possible after each staff development day.