ARTICLE XVI TEACHERS’ SALARY SCHEDULES

Middletown School District

A. Unless otherwise provided herein, or required by law, all teachers shall be paid under the provisions of the basic salary schedule (Class 1)

B. CLASSES

* See Letter of Understanding Page 48
Credit for student teaching earned after August 31, 2012 may not be used to advance to a higher class.

Class 1

All teachers meeting minimum certification requirements as established by the Certification Office of Rhode Island Department of Education and who hold a valid certification shall be placed in Class 1 of the salary schedule. Wherever referred to herein "minimum certification requirements" shall indicate that certification other than emergency certification held at the time of initial employment. Wherever referred to herein professional preparation from an accredited institution shall include credits for inservice courses approved by the School Committee and/or the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Class 2

All teachers who qualify for Class 1 and who present evidence to the Superintendent of thirty (30) hours of professional preparation from an accredited institution beyond minimum requirements for Provisional Certification shall be placed in Class 2. Twenty-four (24) of the thirty (30) hours of professional preparation needed for entrance into Class 2 must be earned during the past ten (10) calendar years.

Class 3

All teachers who qualify for Class 1 and with an earned Master's Degree from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as qualified to offer such a degree, or any teacher who presents evidence to the Superintendent of forty-two (42) hours of professional preparation, of which thirty (30) are classified by the accredited granting institution as graduate level and/ or in an area or subject matter field, shall be placed in Class 3. Thirty (30) of the forty-two (42) hours needed for entrance into Class 3 must be earned during the past ten (10) calendar years.

Class 4

Any teacher who qualified for Class 3 and who presents evidence to the Superintendent of thirty (30) hours of professional preparation not applicable to the "earned Master's Degree" referred to in Class 3 shall be placed in Class 4. Twenty-four (24) of the thirty (30) hours of professional preparation needed for entrance into Class 4 must be earned during the past ten (10) calendar years.

Class 5

Any teacher with an earned Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as qualified to offer such a degree, or any teacher with an earned Master's Degree from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as qualified to offer such a degree, who presents evidence to the Superintendent of (42) hours of professional preparation, of which at least thirty (30) are classified by the accredited granting institution as graduate level credit and/or in an area or subject matter field, shall be placed in Class 5. Thirty (30) of the forty-two (42) hours needed for entrance into Class 5 must be earned subsequent to the date of the granting of the first earned Master's Degree.

Class 5

After August 15, 2011, any teacher with an earned Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as qualified to offer such a degree, or any teacher with an earned Master's Degree from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as qualified to offer such a degree, who presents evidence to the Superintendent of thirty (30) credits in addition to the Class 4 thirty (30) credits, of which all additional thirty (30) are classified by the accredited college or university as graduate or undergraduate level credit and/or in an area or subject matter field, shall be placed in Class 5 provided however that undergraduate level credits shall be subject to pre-approval by the Superintendent or her designee. Such approval or denial shall be made in a timely manner. All thirty (30) additional credits needed for entrance into Class 5 must be earned subsequent to the date of the granting of the first earned Master’s Degree.

The Class 5 change, effective August 16, 2011, shall not reduce compensation for any individual who has already attained Class 4 or 5 as of August 15, 2011.

C. Any teacher with two (2) earned Master's Degrees at the same level shall be placed in the proper class for one of them and given credit for "additional hours" for the other.

D. In-service Credits as per March 9, 2007 MOA:

1. Every 10 hours, in-service or RIDE, earned prior to 9/1/06, will earn one (1) Middletown in-service credit which will be applicable for classes 2, 3, and 4.

2. Inservice and RIDE hours earned out of the school day will earn one (1) Middletown in-service credit to 10 hours which will be applicable for classes 2, 3, 4 and 5. After 9/1/06, RIDE hours earned during the school day will earn one (1) credit to 15 hours which are applicable for classes 2, 3, and 4.

3. Any certified staff members who had their in-service credit hours or RIDE hours denied or put in abeyance for credit time earned prior to 9/1/06, while this matter was pending resolution will have hours adjusted and credited to them as a result of the Superintendent reevaluation their Change of Class application.

4. To be eligible to move to Class 5, certified staff, hired after 9/1/06, is required to hold a Masters’ degree from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as a qualified to offer such a degree. The parties agree that to be eligible to move to Class 5, certified staff, hired before 9/1/06, is not required to hold a Masters’ degree from an institution approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education as a qualified to offer such a degree.

E. National Teacher Certification

A teacher who receives and maintains certifications from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and continues teaching in Middletown shall receive an annual stipend in the amount of thirty-five hundred dollars ($3500.00).

1. Six (6) District approved credits will be granted toward the advance increment schedule for teachers who complete the National Board assessment process but who do not acquire certification. Teacher must submit entire packet evidencing completion of the process.

2. Leave of Absence

The district will assist and support the efforts of teachers who are candidates for certification from the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) by providing up to five (5) professional development days for use exclusively related to national certification.

3. Tuition Aid

A teacher who receives certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) shall be reimbursed in an amount equal to 50% of the application fee less financial aid from any other sources.

F. The School Committee shall reimburse each teacher for course work taken up to $634 per year with a total annual cap of $21,968. Any annual funds left over from each annual cap shall be carried over and added to the next years’ cap. Advance notice shall be given by teacher on or before August 30th for fall, December 15th for Spring and May 15th for summer courses. All courses must be approved by the Superintendent or designee as being related directly to teaching only.

Fifty percent (50%) of the cap is to be implemented by pre-MA course work and fifty percent (50%) is to be implemented for post MA course work.