ARTICLE XII: Reduction in Staff

In the event the Board determines the size of the professional staff be reduced, the following guidelines shall be observed in reducing the number of teaching positions.

The reduction may be applied to all certified personnel or to only some group thereof. The reduction shall be applied to the largest group of teachers which may be reasonably considered. The administration, subject to Board approval, shall determine the group of teachers from which the reduction shall be made. Within the specified group, staff members shall be selected for non-renewal in the following order:

Section A: Selection

1. The greatest possible reduction in teaching staff shall be accomplished through attrition.

2. Staff members who are in their first two (2) years of employment with U.S.D. 470.

3. For the remaining staff members within the specified group, selection will be based on:

a. Administrative evaluation;

b. Certification needs of the district.

Section B: Notice

1. The administration shall provide to any teacher who is to be recommended for non-renewal a notification, in writing, no later than the state-mandated date (May 1), preceding each year. Such notice shall include:

a. The basis for the initial decision for teaching staff reduction.

b. The reason(s) for the selection of the individual teacher.

c. A copy of this article.

d. Notice to the individual teacher of an opportunity to respond.

Section C: Rights

1. After implementing such a reduction procedure, the list of names of non-renewed teachers shall be maintained.

2. Any teacher who has been so non-renewed shall no longer be considered an employee of the district and shall have no employee rights or benefits other than those covered in this article.

Section D: Recall

1. For one year after the effective date of a non-renewal, pursuant to provisions of this article, the school board shall not replace the teacher whose employment has been non-renewed without first offering the position to the non-renewed teacher. If several former teachers are certified for an open position, the Board, after receiving the advice of the Superintendent, shall select the one it thinks will best fill the position. The offer shall be made by registered mail, return receipt requested, and the teacher shall be notified that he/she must submit written acceptance within fifteen calendar days. Acceptance shall be in writing. Failure to accept within fifteen (15) calendar days or rejection of the position eliminates all re-employment rights of the teacher.

2. It is the responsibility of the listed non-renewed teachers to keep the Central Office informed of their current address and any changes in teaching qualifications.

3. A teacher who is recalled within one year shall be placed on the Salary Schedule on the same column and step that the teacher would have been placed if no reduction in force had occurred. The teacher shall be credited with all paid leave that the teacher had accrued at the time of the reduction in force.

4. Any teacher who has been so non-renewed may apply for employment as a substitute teacher in U.S.D. 470.

ARTICLE XIII: Association Rights and Responsibilities

Section A: Joint Board/Association Projects

1. The Board recognizes that the association president is often called upon to sponsor joint Board/Teacher projects which are of benefit to the Board, teacher and community. These have included such projects in the past as welcoming new teachers, planning for the Friends of Education Dinner, creating a float for Arkalalah parade and organizing a reception for a master teacher.

2. The Board shall grant released time with full pay for the association president to work on joint Board/Association projects mutually agreed upon by the Board and the president. The

Superintendent shall notify the building principal at least 5 working days in advance before the association president is granted release time.

3. Any project mutually agreed upon and for which released time is granted shall be for the benefit of the district as a whole and no association business, meeting or advertising shall be a part of such projects.

Section B: Association Projects

1. The Board will grant the association president a maximum of three (3) days leave per year to perform duties required by the association.

2. A payroll deduction equal to payment of one (1) substitute day shall be made for each day of leave taken.

3. President's leave for association projects shall not be taken on days immediately before or after any vacation, during the first and last weeks of the school year or during in-service days at the beginning of the school year.

Section C: Association Leave

At the beginning of each school year, the Association will be granted five (5) days paid leave to be used for organization purposes such as engaging in professional negotiations, participating in instructional programs relating to the representation of the Association, or attending KNEA or NEA sponsored events where Association representation is deemed beneficial. Notice shall be given to the Superintendent at least 48 hours in advance when such leave is to be taken.

Section D: Extended Leave

The association president may apply for extended leave under ARTICLE IX, Section I, during the year the individual serves as president.

Section E: Association Use of USD Facilities, Equipment, And Supplies

1. ACTA shall be allowed the use of district facilities without charge for small groups and committee meetings. ACTA shall notify the appropriate administrator of the use of such facilities to make certain such meetings do not conflict with other scheduled events.

2. If such meetings require other than normal heating or cooling schedules, arrangements will be made with the Superintendent or his designee.

3. ACTA shall restrict the use of district equipment and supplies to reasonable amounts necessary to maintain communication with the teachers of USD #470. ACTA shall inform the building principal of use of supplies so that the principal may request reimbursement from district funds if so desired.

4. Maintenance will carefully move the ACTA file cabinet to the current ACTA President's room or office on or about July 1 every year. (Alternate site to be agreed upon by ACTA and Administration)

Section F: Posting of Deadlines

The dates of all deadlines as indicated in the Master Agreement shall be posted at the beginning of each school year on the district’s web site (www.arkcity.com) and twice per year in the staff newsletter.

The posting shall list by month all deadlines indicated in the Master Agreement and may include any other deadlines indicated in Board Policies or Central Office procedures.