Unit Information 10-2004
Issues That Need Clarification: Units & Salary Schedule, October 2004
1. When do proposals for units need to be submitted? Under what situations would you not have to submit a proposal for a unit? How late in the school year could you submit a unit proposal? This is a two-fold question.
Proposals can occur at anytime during the school year, but they need to fit within the natural time frame of the school year. A proposal must be submitted for all units. Documentation will need to be attached to the final product for final unit approval.
2. Who has to get units? Who does not?
Anyone who desires to move through the salary schedule or to demonstrate professional growth must obtain units to do so.
3. Where do all the copies of the unit forms go?
Individuals maintain their records in their red folders. Copies of the Unit Verification Form, which is printed in triplicate, will be provided to the building administrator and the District Staff Development Designee after the units have been completed and "signed off" on.
4. How long do people have to move into the MA+30 Lane under the current contract?
Until September 1, 2005.
5. When do people have to submit their transcripts to the District if they want to receive credit & change lanes for that school year?
That date has been established as September 25 under the current negotiated agreement.
6. What happens if somebody doesn't get their units?
They will be frozen at the third cell within a block until 9 units are acquired.
7. Can units be accumulated?
Units can be accumulated up until 9 units within a 3-year time frame.
8. Is there a "Grandfather clause" for people who were in master's programs at colleges where coursework is no longer accepted by the District?
People who are currently in a program with a signed pink approval form that is dated prior to September 22, 2004 may continue their approved coursework.
9. Is there a "Grandfather clause" for people who want to take credits at colleges where coursework is no longer accepted by the District?
No. The District has worked to align their standards of accepted colleges and universities with the standards for acceptable coursework established under PI.34.
10. The comment was made that the lane 4A will disappear. What does this mean?
Both sides have agreed to further cell consolidation in future bargains.
11. People who have been working for their MA+30 were assured that it was possible to advance to the +30 lane and then not have to get the second master's degree or NTBC. Is this true?
Under the present contract, they can advance to that lane providing they meet the 30-credit requirement. The other pieces are not addressed in this contract.
12. What happens to people in the last cell of a block during the "practice year"?
We are going through the process of the "practice year" to assist people. It was designed as a time for receiving input and working on resolving issues that emerge as we work through the process. Our goal during this practice year is to help all individuals to gain a level of understanding, while providing them with the support they need in order to be successful. However, with that said, someone who is in the last cell of a block will need to obtain 3 units in order to move to the next block.
13. What happens to people who don't attempt units?
They will be frozen at the third cell within a block until 9 units are acquired.
14. What happens to people in the first or second cell of a block during the "practice year" if they choose not to attempt units?
They will progress to the next cell within the block. However, they will still be held accountable for obtaining 9 units if they are in the first cell of the block, or 6 units if they are in the second cell of the block, in order to move to the next block.