PREAMBLE
Central Falls School District
This agreement made and entered into effective as of September 1, 2016 by and between the Central Falls School District hereinafter referred to as the District and the Central Falls Teachers’ Union, Local 1567, RIFT, AFT, and AFL-CIO, hereinafter referred to as the Union.
The parties to this agreement share a fundamental and abiding commitment to the education of the children of the City of Central Falls. They recognize and greatly appreciate the extraordinary commitment of teachers and administrators in the system. Yet the parties to this agreement recognize that the Central Falls school system as a whole must do more to meet the needs and expectations of the community. The challenge is great but the responsibility for educating a Central Falls student to his or her full potential is the responsibility of all of the district's stakeholders.
The parties agree to the importance of school-based decision-making; the importance of on-going, relevant professional development leading to continuous adult learning; the importance of parent involvement; the importance of accountability for performance and student achievement by students, parents, teachers and administrators; a shared commitment to diversity; and finally, the need for a collaborative working relationship.
Whereas, the School Teachers’ Arbitration Act accords public school teachers the right to organize, to be represented and to bargain on a collective basis with school committees and comparable school administrative agents regarding hours, salary, working conditions and other terms / conditions of employment, and
Whereas, the Central Falls School District and the Central Falls Teachers’ Union desire to promote good relations among certified teachers and between the District and the Union in the best interests of high quality education in the Central Falls school system; to provide and maintain mutually satisfactory terms and conditions of employment; and to provide for the adjustment of grievances and disputes arising out of employment of certified teachers, and
Whereas, in an election conducted by the Rhode Island Labor Relations Board among eligible professional personnel of the Central Falls School District on October 4, 1967, a majority of those voting selected as exclusive bargaining representative the Central Falls Teachers’ Union, and it thereby became the sole bargaining agent for all classroom teachers and eligible certified personnel, therefore:
There is reserved exclusively to the Board all responsibilities, powers, rights and authority expressly or inherently vested in it by the laws and constitutions of Rhode Island and of the United States, excepting where expressly and in specific terms limited by the provisions of this Agreement. It is agreed that the Board retains the right to establish and enforce reasonable rules and personnel policies relating to the duties and responsibilities of teachers and their working conditions which are not inconsistent with this Agreement.
In all matters under this Agreement calling for the exercise of judgment or discretion on the part of the Board the decision of the Board shall be final and binding if made in good faith, except where otherwise provided in this Agreement.
The Central Falls School Board of Trustees and the Central Falls Teachers’ Union believe that this Contract creates a powerful and effective foundational partnership that supports each child of the Central Falls School System in reaching high academic standards and cultural awareness.
The Central Falls Teachers’ Union and the Central Falls Board of Trustees acknowledge and support these expressed ideals. The parties publicly commit our energies toward reaching them.