Greater Albany EA Contract 2019-2020
Language to Know
Class Size
10. Class Size Policy/Committee: If the Board determines during the life of this agreement that the current class size policy needs to be reconsidered and revised, the class size committee will meet to prepare recommendations. The District and Association agree to the formation of a class size committee, with
o three (3) members selected by the District,
o three (3) members selected by the Association, and
o three (3) community members,
each acceptable to the Board and the Association. The committee will develop a recommendation on class size policy and procedures for dealing with class size concerns. The committee will study class size standards, District operating procedures regarding class size, the number of student contacts per day; District past practices regarding class size, District financial resources, and the needs of special students and the workloads of the specialists. Further, the committee may identify areas recommended to be targeted for future improvement. The committee shall meet regularly, distribute comprehensive minutes of each meeting, and submit a final report to the District and Association. The committee will actively solicit the involvement of local citizen groups, parent groups, staff and the public.
The class size policy adopted by the School Board will be adhered to by the District. However, the School Board may determine that the class size policy cannot be complied within a particular situation because of educational needs beyond the control of the School Board, such as lack of sufficient appropriate facilities, or inadequate resources. Enforcement of the class size policy adopted by the Board will be by the same procedures as apply generally to Board policies. A quarterly report on class size shall be provided to the Board and to the Association president.
Class Size Appeals Procedure: The class size appeals procedure shall be automatically initiated at the following class size numbers:
K – 2 27 or more students
3 – 5 31 or more students
Middle School 34 or more students
High School 36 or more students
Any teacher who recognizes a class overload problem, even if the class size is below these numbers, can appeal for intervention through the following process:
a. The teacher or teachers involved may request in writing, referencing Article 18 “Class Size Appeals Procedure,” a meeting with the building principal to discuss issues regarding class size or student makeup and to explore potential solutions. The building principal will provide the teacher(s) with a written response to the appeal within ten (10) working days.
b. If the teacher(s) is unsatisfied with the response or actions by the principal at the building level, an appeal may be made to the Superintendent or designee. The Superintendent/designee will provide the teacher(s) with a written response to the appeal within ten (10) working days.
c. If the teacher(s) is unsatisfied with the Superintendent’s response to the appeal, the matter may be presented to the Board by the teacher(s). After hearing the appeal at a Board meeting, the Board will provide a written response within ten (10) working days. The decision of the Board shall be considered final.
d. The teacher(s) may have Association representation at any level of this procedure.
Class Size/School Committee: A school committee will be created in each building made up of building staff and comprised of
- one (1) administrator,
- one (1) special education representative,
- at least two (2) classroom teachers,
- and the school counselor.
The counselor appointment will be optional.
The committee will develop a written plan to deal with class sizes for classes with and without special needs students. This plan will provide distribution of IEP, “504” and regular education students, based on their individual needs. The goal of this plan shall be smaller class sizes for those classrooms with higher need students. This plan does not take the place of the class size appeals process. Each building’s class size plan shall include a written procedure developed before the start of the school year to be used in assigning students who are transferring into the school to appropriate classroom assignments, so as to ensure an equitable distribution of special needs students.
Article 18.11 – Secondary Prep ADDED LANGUAGE
The District will make every reasonable effort to assign middle and high school teachers no more than three (3) core class preps. Core is hereby defined as: Math, Science, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and required courses (graduation requirements).
If more than three (3) core class preps are assigned, the teacher may appeal to the Secondary Teacher Class Prep Appeal Process:
The teacher or teachers involved may request in writing, a meeting with the building principal to discuss issues regarding secondary teacher class preps and to explore potential solutions. The building principal will provide the teacher(s) with a written response to the appeal within ten (10) working days.
If the teacher(s) is unsatisfied with the response or actions by the principal at the building level, an appeal may be made to the Superintendent or designee. The Superintendent/designee will provide the teacher(s) with a written response to the appeal within ten (10) working days.
If the teacher(s) is unsatisfied with the Supertendent’s respone to the appeal, the matter may be presented to the Board by the teacher(s). After hearing the appeal at a Board meeting, the Board will provide a written response within ten (10) working days. The decision of the Board shall be considered final.
The teacher(s) may have Association representation at any level of this procedure.
Article 22 – Disrupted Learning Procedure ADDED LANGUAGE
The administration shall make available to employees the District’s discipline procedure and the process for documentation and referral of disruptive and aggressive students at the beginning of each school year. Building disciplinary procedures consistent with District procedures shall be developed by and distributed to building staff.
This procedure shall include:
- The teacher’s right to remove disruptive students who are physically or verbally disruptive from the classroom temporarily.
4. If the teacher is unsatisfied with the response or actions by the principal at the building level, an appeal may be made to the Superintendent or designee. The teacher shall be provided with a written response to the appeal within ten (10) working days.
5. The Superintendent or designee will have the final authority to resolve any grievance under this Article.
6. The teacher may have Association representation at any level of this procedure.
Article 15 – Sick Leave MOU
In an effort to allow a one-time increase in the hours available in the Sick Leave Bank for teachers, Greater Albany Education Association (GAEA) and the Greater Albany Public Schools District (GAPS) agree to the following memorandum of understanding.
The memorandum is in effect only September 2019.
This agreement modifies the language in the CBA Article 15.3 as follows:
Donations to the Sick Leave Bank can be made by employees who during the month of September, 2019 notify the Association that they are willing to donate one (1) personal leave day plus (2) sick leave days. A personal leave day must be donated before the sick leave days can be donated. This agreement will be in effect until 60 employees have donated days according to these guidelines.
In order to donate under this agreement, the employee must have a minimum of 120 hours of sick leave available.
The original language in Article 15 remains in effect and members may donate under that language at any time.
Greater Albany Education Association 