ARTICLE 2 ASSOCIATION RIGHTS

Bristol Warren School District

A. Statistical Data. The Committee agrees, upon written request of the Bristol Warren Education Association, to release to Bristol Warren Education Association information available to the Committee concerning the financial resources of the district, and such other pertinent non-privileged information as will assist the Bristol Warren Education Association to develop accurate and informed proposals concerning hours, salary, working conditions, and all other terms and conditions of professional employment for all teachers in the negotiating unit. It is further agreed that the Committee will have a reasonable time to respond to such requests and that the Committee may, at its option, fulfill such requests either by written response or by making pertinent records available to a Bristol Warren Education Association representative in Committee offices.

It is further agreed the Committee shall not be required to prepare or to conduct any analysis, surveys, research or studies in response to Association requests.

B. Professional Meetings. If meetings between the Association and the Committee, or their representatives, are scheduled during normal working hours of a school day for arbitration, negotiations, or to discuss a grievance, the appropriate representatives and witnesses of the Association shall be relieved from all regular duties, without loss of pay.

C. Association Business. At the discretion of the Association, and with notification to the Superintendent, representatives of the Association shall be granted time to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops regarding Association related activities, not to exceed a total of twenty (20) days per year for all members at full pay, providing the attending teachers’ pay the cost of the substitutes.

D. Policy Change. The Committee agrees that, except in case of emergency, the Committee will notify the Association of any rule or policy change not covered by this Agreement pertaining to hours, salary, or other terms and conditions of professional employment within a reasonable time prior to the effective date of such rule or policy change. Upon written request from the Association to the Committee within five (5) days after such notification by the Committee, the Committee will afford the President(s) of the Association an opportunity to consult with the Committee as to the same before its effective date.

E. Documentation. The School Committee shall supply copies of the following documents to the President of the Association at the same time said documents are made available to Committee members:

1. Student enrollment data

2. Pupil and Teacher distribution statistics

3. Monthly financial reports of the School Committee

4. Budget proposals approved by the School Committee

5. A copy of the official agenda, excluding executive session agenda. Related non- privileged, non-confidential attachments to the agenda will be given to the Association prior to the call of the chair.

6. Copies of official minutes of Committee meetings, excluding executive session minutes, and all other documents related to hours, salary, working conditions, and all other terms and conditions of professional employment.

7. Copies of School Committee policy and changes thereto.

8. A complete list of job descriptions and specifications for any certified position in the
Bristol Warren School Department, except Superintendent.

F. Grievance Committee In-School Meetings. Members of the Grievance Committee, or other representatives of the Bristol Warren Education Association, with knowledge of the principal to whom they are assigned, may receive and may discuss formal complaints and grievances of teachers on school premises and during school hours, but only to such extent as does not neglect, retard, or interfere with the teaching duties of such Grievance Committee members.

G. Teaching Staff Information. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all BWEA members and their building, grade, and subject assignments shall be provided to the Bristol Warren Education Association President(s). Telephone numbers of all staff members shall be provided except for those that individual staff members have indicated should not be provided.

H. Use of School Facilities

1. The Association shall have the right to use school buildings in accordance with the District’s use of facility policy for professional meetings during times when buildings are manned by custodial staff and provided also that such use does not interfere with or impair the instructional program in any way or cause custodial expense. The principal of the building involved must be given reasonable notice in advance of the time and place of such meeting.

2. It is further agreed that the association will leave any premises used by it in suitable condition.

3. The Committee agrees to permit the Association use of bulletin board space in each faculty room for the purpose of posting official Association notices. The authorized Association representative of each building shall be responsible for the posting of all such notices and the content thereof. All notices, prior to the posting, shall be signed by the authorized Association representative of that building. Copies of all such material will be given to the principal and the person posting shall be responsible for all claims regarding the content of the posting.  In addition, electronic communication may be used to disseminate information among BWEA members upon approval of the BWEA President(s).

No member of the administration will assume responsibility for the preparation, posting, or distribution of materials for the Association.

4. The Association or any committee or representative thereof shall have the right to use school telephones for local telephone calls for Association business provided that such action does not neglect, retard or interfere with teaching duties.