Substitutes

There has been an issue with having enough substitutes.  This was brought up in District Advisory Committee (DAC) as well as by administrators at their meeting.

In the past, the District has only accepted applications for substitutes twice a year, followed by interviews and a training class.  In October, there were 350 substitute applications received.  The training is now offered online.  Once new applicants are approved, they can take the online training whenever they would like, submit the paperwork required to prove they did the training, and be fingerprinted.  Then they are ready to sub.  This could happen as quickly as a week if the substitute is motivated to finish.  Now the District will accept substitute applications at any time, not just twice a year.

Part of the lack of substitutes has to do with them now being paid hourly instead of half-day or full-day.  The District website still shows half-day and full-day rates, not hourly rates, which may cause confusion for substitutes.

From June LeMaster, Human Resources Director:
-The substitute teacher pay has also changed in that subs are paid hourly and not by half days or full days.  They are used to arriving late and leaving early and expecting to be paid the full day.  As subs are paid with taxpayer money, we are holding them accountable and paying them only for time worked. 
-Principals have always maintained the authority to have a substitute work a full day even when students are not at school, as long there is work for the substitute to do.
-We realize some subs are disgruntled with the changes, specifically for being paid only for the hours they work; however, we believe we are being fiscally responsible with taxpayer money. The money saved will be diverted to other District needs.

Secretaries are being asked to "babysit" substitutes and have them working with students all day, including covering other classes during the one teacher's prep if a sub is unavailable at the secondary level.

There was a concern mentioned that secondary teachers feel that not subbing on their prep period when a substitute has not arrived may be held against them in the future.  This should not be happening.  Teachers should not feel guilty for not covering a class during their prep period.

If you are having problems with not enough substitutes or complaints about the pay of substitutes, please let me know.  This issue may need to return to DAC.

Busy Day

This morning was the Sick Bank Committee.  I met with School Board President Rick Bojak after that.  We had a good conversation about ongoing collaboration.  I thought the meeting went well.

I spent lunch at Elk Ridge.  They have a great faculty who seem very informed and wanting to know what is happening next as far as legislation that will impact their classrooms.  Thanks to Jannifer for setting up that meeting!

This after noon was DAC.  We discussed an exit survey, school climate, nepotism, and JPAS for nurses.  Watch the JEA website where the minutes will be posted as soon as we have them.

DAC - September 2011

The District Advisory Committee met last evening.  We discussed the results of the high school parent teacher conference survey from last spring.  DAC will be looking at options for restructuring HS PTC.

I am going to be on a committee to evaluate the transfer, placement, and hiring process.

The year round to traditional pay issues was discussed again.  Kyle Hansen, HR Director of Licensed Recruitment, is going to find out how many elementary teachers leave prior to the end of November in order to determine the cost of allowing teachers who move from a YR to a traditional schedule to stay on their 12-month YR pay schedule.

The law surrounding Legislative Supply Money states that "a teacher on salary schedule steps one through three teaching in grade . . .", which poses a problem since we have not had steps two of the last three years.  John Larsen in Accounting said the state distributes the money based on CACTUS, which shows years of service, not step placement, so the District will distribute the money based on years also.

If an issue is not being resolved by your SAC, and it is an issue being faced by most schools throughout the District, let me know so I can bring that issue to DAC.

Meetings

Yesterday afternoon was the Negotiated Joint Committee and DAC.  Both meetings went well.  In the Joint Committee, the high school parent teacher conference survey results were discussed along with the Grievance Policy and the District Vehicle Guideline.  DAC reviewed other committee reports for the year. 

November DAC

The District Advisory Committee met yesterday afternoon.  We discussed principals who are not following the newly negotiated item about Grade Transmittal Days being optional, and that teachers will complete their grades on time, either prior to or on that day.

High school Parent Teacher Conferences were discussed.  This item will go to the new committee that will begin meeting in January to look at possibly restructuring to make better use of time.

AP funding was addressed.  Funding is based on the number of students who passed the tests the previous year.  However, the amount of funding changes from year to year.  This is very difficult to predict.

Suspensions in 9th-12th grade show on the transcript, which is a permanent document.  Once information is on a transcript, it cannot be changed.

The time to administer the PLAN test in middle and high schools was a problem.  They would like a late start, but the logistics of transportation make this difficult.  Questions need to be directed to Clyde Mason.

A question about our calendared holiday breaks not matching surrounding districts was brought up.  We have year round schools, and try to match our traditional and year round holiday breaks as closely as possible.  This makes adding days to Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring breaks nearly impossible.  Anyone who has served on the Calendar Committee recognizes this.

Finally, we reviewed some recently revised policies.

Lots of Meetings

Last night was the Executive Board Meeting.  We approved committee assignments and the budget, which will be presented for approval by ARs at the Legislative Council meeting next week.

Today was a Sick Bank Committee meeting.  If you need to use Sick Bank, Critical Family Illness, or Adoption Leave, read the policy carefully.  Sick Leave Policy  Ask for clarification through Human Resources if needed.

District Advisory Committee was this afternoon.  Issues discussed were time for PLCs at the elementary level (work with your principal and be creative), salary items from negotiations, Herriman Fire make-up day for C track will be on Presidents' Day in the middle of their off track time (plan for it now), secondary Teacher Salary Supplemental Program application at http://www.tssp.utah.gov/, classroom temperature either too hot or too cold (talk with your custodian and principal first, then Auxillary Services), license renewal finger prints can start now if your license expires in June 2011, food policy that you can purchase food for students but not for employees, and legislative supply money starting at $50 now and the remainder will come in December.  More details later.

I forgot about the Special Education Task Force that met in between the other two meetings.  I will be finding out what was discussed there.