ARTICLE XXII: PROTECTION

Smithfield School District

A. The committee will provide workers’ compensation insurance for all certified personnel. Any certified employee who is out under a valid workers’ compensation claim will have no reduction in salary or benefits. All workers’ compensation insurance payments will be made directly to the Smithfield School Department.

Employees on a workers’ compensation claim who do not return to work after one year from the date of the injury may request an extended, unpaid leave for up to one year. A teacher shall submit an assurance form executed by the treating physician certifying that such leave is necessary.

B. Whenever a teacher is absent from school as a result of personal injury caused by an unprovoked assault occurring in the course of his/her employment, he/she shall be paid his/her full salary for the period of such absence up to one (1) year from the date of injury, and no part of the absence shall be charged to his/her annual sick leave. Additional benefits shall be paid by workers’ compensation insurance if the injury lasts longer than one (1) year.

C. The Committee shall have the right to have the teacher examined by a physician designated by the Committee for the purpose of establishing the length of time the teacher will be disabled from performing his/her duties. The opinion of the physician as to the period shall control.

D. When administrators of the school know of pupils who have physical and/or emotional challenges that directly affect the safety of pupils or teachers, they shall notify teachers who are responsible for such students, either through supervisory duties or direct instruction or service.

E. The committee and the Association agree that the adjustment of behavior problems is the joint responsibility of teachers and administrators. Teachers may temporarily exclude a pupil from class when the pupil’s behavior is disruptive to the learning environment and the teacher has utilized a variety of strategies for redirecting the
disruptive behavior. When a pupil is excluded from class, the teacher will confer with the principal or his/her designee to provide the necessary information concerning the problem as well as the strategies that were applied by the teacher to address the issue. The principal shall take appropriate action and notify the teacher of said action.

F. The Committee shall reimburse teachers for any and all personal property (excluding automobiles) damaged, destroyed, or stolen, which is required by the teacher in performance of his/her teaching duties and present with the knowledge of the principal. However, in no case shall the amount of the claim be in excess of two hundred dollars ($200) provided that the first thirty ($30) dollars shall be excluded from any recovery. There shall be no recovery where damage, destruction or theft is due to the teacher’s negligence.