ARTICLE VI LENGTH OF SCHOOL DAY, HOURS AND LOAD

Middletown School District

A. The teachers' normal workday shall be no longer than six (6) hours and fifty (50) minutes.

B. No teacher shall be required to spend more than a weekly average of six hours per day in teaching and supervisory activities. This time is exclusive of the fifteen (15) minutes prior to and fifteen (15) minutes after school required in ARTICLE III, Section C.

C. No teacher shall be required to spend more than three (3) cumulative hours in a four (4) week period in meetings called by the School Department. All meetings will be purposeful and will have a focus on improving professional practice. Such meetings include, but are not limited to:

• Personal Literacy Plan (PLP), Personal Math Plan (PMP), Response to Intervention (RtI) development and implementation meetings
• Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Analysis of state and classroom assessments
• Review, scoring, and calibration sessions
• Curriculum development and articulation
• Open House
• Professional development
• IEP, PLP, PMP creation and progress monitoring
• Curriculum development articulation, including content and grade level PLC work

All professional development sessions conducted during this time will be collaboratively decided upon by professional development subcommittees at each building. All sessions will be aligned with the District Strategic Plan, the School Improvement Plans, and the District Professional Development Plan. Where possible, topics will support the fulfillment of RIDE’s requirements toward the teacher’s individual evaluation.

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement of the AAA Sit Team Grievance, dated June 6, 2008, the professional development subcommittee of the High School site based council shall be populated by the High School Principal (or the Assistant Principal), three (3) content directors, and four (4) Middletown High School classroom teachers. The professional development subcommittee of the Elementary site based council shall be populated by the Principal, School Improvement Team Chair or lead teacher, and two (2) teachers. The professional subcommittee of the Middle School site based council shall be populated by the Middle School Principal or the Assistant Principal, two (2) head content and/or head teachers, and three (3) teachers.

There shall be a District Professional Development Oversight Committee (DOC). The DOC will meet quarterly to approve the purpose of the three hours for each building, as determined and submitted by the professional development subcommittees at each building. The committee can also meet on a monthly basis to consider any necessary revisions.

The DOC will be comprised of the following members:

•     One guidance counselor
•     Two building administrators
•     One central office administrator
•     One representative from NEAM

One of the three following teachers must be a lead teacher or head content teacher:

•     One elementary teacher from Forest Avenue School
•     One elementary teacher from Aquidneck School
•     One teacher from the Gaudet Learning Academy (Grades 4-5)

One of the two following teachers (for each school) must be a head content teacher or director:

•     Two Gaudet School teachers (Grades 6-8)
•     Two MHS teachers

The DOC shall have two chairs, one assigned by Administration and one assigned by the Union.

The professional development subcommittees at each building will submit written proposed plans to the two chairs of the DOC for professional development hours at least one week prior to the quarterly meeting.

All plans for professional development hours must be approved by the DOC prior to their implementation. In the absence of DOC approval, no professional development hours will be scheduled. The purpose for the professional development hours, once approved, cannot be changed without the written consent of the DOC.

If the DOC cannot reach a consensus on a professional development plan, the plan will be submitted to the Superintendent (or designee) and the Union President (or designee). They will meet and review the professional development plan and will collaboratively agree on a plan. If they are unable to reach consensus, the matter shall be immediately submitted to expedited arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any professional development plan agreed to by the parties in this process or as decided by a decision of an arbitrator shall be in compliance with all appropriate Federal and State rules, regulations, directives and statutes relating to professional development.

D. 1.There shall be at least one (1) preparation period per day. Preparation and cluster time shall be exclusive of the fifteen (15) minutes before and the fifteen (15) minutes after the students' normal school day. Preparation time for all teachers shall be arranged on the basis of a weekly average of one (1) clock hour of preparation time per school day. During exams, the high school teacher shall have one preparation period per day.

2. In the event that a high school teacher has more than three (3) distinct major subject matter or subject level preparations per day, such teacher shall be allowed an additional preparation period per week in lieu of other supervisory duties.

3. Should certification of any school change, preparation periods will remain the same and will immediately upon notice be negotiated by the Superintendent and NEAM If not resolved within thirty (30) calendar days of notice, final resolution shall be by final and binding expedited arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association Rules as amended and effective January 1, 1996.

E. Each elementary teacher shall receive at least thirty (30) consecutive minutes of preparation time per day. The remainder of said preparation time shall be in blocks of at least thirty (30) minutes. Preparation and cluster time shall be exclusive of the fifteen (15) minutes before and after the students' normal school day.

F. When a teacher in a special subject area is in charge of an elementary school teacher's class, the regular teacher may leave the classroom.

G. Whenever possible, all elementary teachers will be provided with an adequate duty-free lunch period at least equal in length to that provided for their students, with a minimum of twenty-five (25) minutes, and secondary teachers shall receive a duty-free lunch period equal to that of their students.

H. 1. In order to carry out the responsibilities of their positions, teachers classified as Department Heads or Grade Leaders will have a reduced teaching load. Department heads shall be assigned to teach no more than 60% of the assigned teaching load of regular teachers.

2. Department Heads, Grade Leaders and Head Teachers shall be elected or otherwise designated to such positions on an annual basis by the Committee upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools and each Department Head shall be informed in writing on or before July 1st of his or her designation to said office, including the remuneration or increment to be paid for same (See Appendix 1).

3. K-12 Directors shall be assigned to teach no more than three (3) teaching periods and no duty periods.