ARTICLE 31 - SHARED CONTRACTS

31.1          Ten shared-contract positions at the elementary level and ten shared-contract positions at the secondary level will be available. The positions will be of a two-year duration. At the end of two years, participants must reapply. The number of shared-contract positions available will be determined by the number of positions previously unfilled and those positions subject to reapplication.

31.2          There shall be no more than two shared contracts per school site. Shared-contract positions will not be available for two consecutive grade levels on the same track at the same site. If any of the ten shared-contract positions available at either the elementary or secondary level has not been filled, there can be a maximum of four shared-contracts per school site.

31.3          There will be five shared-contract positions available for non-classroom support personnel. The unit members sharing the contract must have the same job description. Unit members must agree to share the contract for two years or until an opening in that job description occurs.

31.4          Should more applicants for the ten (10) shared-contract positions at either the elementary or secondary level be eligible or the five (5) shared contract positions for non-classroom support personnel be eligible , the  teams at each level will be selected by lottery.

31.5          The District will announce the availability of the shared-contract positions on an annual basis.  Teachers interested in a shared-contract must complete the application/contract available from the Human Resources office by the deadline announced in the flyer. The application must include the team’s plans for: work schedules, parent conferences, back-to-school night, open house, adjunct/extra duties, in-service, issuing of grades and the signature of the principal/administrator who accepts the shared contract. If a principal/administrator declines to sign the application, the applicants for the shared contract position can appeal to the Deputy Superintendent, Human Resources or his/her designee.

31.6          Participation in the program requires:

           (a)      That all teacher participants be tenured at the time of application.

        (b)      That all teacher participants (except for maternity leave) be in a regular paid teaching position for one year prior to application.

           (c)      That teachers on a performance improvement plan are not eligible.

           (d)     That all teacher participants share the contract on a fifty/fifty basis.

31.7          Unit members participating in shared-contract positions will  receive:

           (a)      Fifty percent of  their salary

           (b)      Fifty percent of their sick/personal necessity leave

           (c)      Fifty percent of their health and welfare benefits

           (d)     One-half year of credit for advancement on the salary schedule for each year on the shared-contract.

31.8          Should either or both partners in the shared-contract decide, at any time, to terminate this agreement, the teacher participant with the least District seniority shall be placed in an available, appropriate teaching position at the discretion of the District.

31.9          Should one member of the team leave the position for any reason, the remaining member will assume the full- time position immediately.  Under no circumstances will a new partner be added to an existing shared-contract.

31.10                  At the time of acceptance into the shared-contract position the unit members will meet with a designee from Human Resources to sign a contract acknowledging and agreeing to the criteria set forth in this article.

31.11                  If at the end of the two-year shared-contract, the teacher participants do not reapply or are not accepted for an additional two-year participation, the unit members will be placed in available positions at their site for which they are qualified in accordance with the procedures outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.