PREAMBLE
North Smithfield School District
The School Committee of the Town of North Smithfield and the North Smithfield Teachers' Association recognize that they have a mutual responsibility beyond their collective bargaining relationship.
The School Committee and the North Smithfield Teachers' Association declare their desire to work together to attain the common goals of educational excellence.
The School Committee and the North Smithfield Teachers' Association will strive to achieve a formulation ·
of general objectives and of long-term educational aims and programs of mutual concern.
It is hoped that this joint endeavor will result in a significant advancement of public education in the Town of North Smithfield.
WHEREAS, the Committee and the Association believe in the importance of schools as an agency for the preservation and extension of our democracy; and
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement are mutually committed to the necessity of educational opportunity for each and every pupil of the North Smithfield Public School System with no exclusion from any program on the basis of race, religion, creed, social and economic status; and
WHEREAS, it is the mutual responsibility of all members of the North Smithfield Public School System to insure that good order and discipline are maintained throughout the system and that the classroom teacher is fully supported in all reasonable measures taken by him to maintain and effectuate good order and discipline in the classroom; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that there be understanding and cooperation between the teachers in the classroom and the Committee which is responsible for the operation of the school system; and
WHEREAS, the parties of this Agreement believe that the best interests of public education will be served by established procedures for bargaining with teacher representatives on matters of common concern and for providing orderly channels for appeals should any differences not be resolved; and
WHEREAS, the laws of the State of Rhode Island authorize collective bargaining for public employees and authorize public employees to enter into collective bargaining agreements with the representatives of their employers; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to incorporate their agreements and certain other matters into a formal contract, and believe that such action is in the best interests of community, children, school system and teachers; and
This Agreement in accordance with the School Teachers' Arbitration Act is made and entered into as of the first day of September, A.D. 2015 by and between the SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD, RHODE ISLAND, hereinafter called the"Committee" and the NORTH SMITHFIELD TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, hereinafter called the "Association."
In consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties agree to and with each other as follows: