ARTICLE XXI: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Smithfield School District

A.  Professional Development Committee

There shall be a twelve (12) member Professional Development Committee comprised of the Association President, the Superintendent (or his/her designees), five teachers appointed by the President and five administrators appointed by the Superintendent.  The President and the Superintendent (or his/her designees) may serve as co-chairs or may designate a co-chair from their appointees.

It shall be the responsibility of the committee to:

1.   Develop, implement , and monitor the District Professional Development Plan
2.   Meet bi-monthly. Additional meetings may be called by the co-chairs as needed
3.   Develop, administer and analyze semi-annual (at a minimum) teacher surveys
4.   Plan and implement a minimum of 16.5 hours of professional development opportunities

5.   Offer professional development based on:

a.   teacher survey data
b.   curriculum/program/DEC committees
c.   professional development needs of teachers
d.   analysis of student performance data

6.   Maintain an updated list of professional development opportunities

7.   Teachers who prepare and teach a district-wide professional development session beyond the contractual day shall receive compensation of fifty ($50) dollars per hour.

8. Teachers who prepare and teach district-wide professional development sessions during the contractual day shall be compensated for their preparation work at the rate of fifty ($50) dollars/hour, not to exceed two (2) hours per preparation. These professional development sessions shall be approved by the superintendent or his/her designee.

B. Out-of-district conferences/workshops

Teachers requesting to attend out-of-district conferences/workshops must submit the appropriate form developed by the association president and superintendent or their designees. Conferences must be related to the professional growth goals identified by the teacher, school or district initiatives, and/or stated in the district strategic plan. The superintendent or his/her designee must approve out-of-district conferences/workshops. Teachers granted permission for out- of-district conferences/workshops may be asked to provide a professional development session for their school without compensation during regular school hours or at a future faculty meeting. Additionally, the compensation for after-school professional development sessions provided by such individuals may be waived if the cost of the workshop or conference incurred by the district exceeds $200. Such requests will be stated and mutually agreed upon prior to conference approval.

C. Curriculum Committees

The Committee and the Association agree that curriculum drives instruction. To this end, curriculum committees comprised of teachers representing each relevant grade level and/or content areas shall be formed to develop curricula and recommend programs and/or textbooks. At the elementary level reasonable efforts shall be made to implement no more than one new program per year.

1.   All teachers shall be notified and may apply when curriculum committees are being formed. The President and the Superintendent or their designee(s) shall select committee members from the pool of volunteers based on experience appropriate to the affected curriculum.

2.   Teachers will be compensated for all approved after school curriculum work at the rate of forty ($40) dollars per hour.

D. Required documentation for all Professional Development Stipends
All professional development stipends shall be included as part of the teacher’s salary and shall be received in the pay period following the submission of the appropriate documents.

E. Voluntary Professional Development

Teachers who acquire additional relevant professional development shall keep a record of dates and sessions attended.

F. Consultant visits shall have the following guidelines:

1. Shall be non-evaluative
2. Shall not occur more than three (3) times per year
3. Shall not visit in the last week of the marking period.
4. Consist of no more than four (4) adults per group to visit any single classroom
5. Classroom teachers shall be notified no less than two (2) days prior to the visit