ARTICLE 25 GENERAL

Tiverton School District

A. The Board shall not discriminate in any way against any teacher by reason of her/his membership in or participation in the activities of the Association or her/his exercise of rights granted under this Agreement.

B. It is agreed that the Superintendent of Schools, or her/his designee, will meet and consult with the President of the Association and/or members of the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee at the request of either the Superintendent or the President of the Association to explore ways and means of improving the educational process in Tiverton.

C. The parties shall mutually agree on a method of printing and distributing this agreement and the cost shall be borne equally.

D. When the Superintendent is preparing the school calendar for consideration by the School Board, she/he will invite the President of the NEA Tiverton, or his designee to consult with her/him - provided, however, and it is understood and agreed, that the school calendar shall be as fixed by the School Board.

E. This Agreement constitutes Board policy for the term of said Agreement, and the Board will carry out the commitments contained herein and give them full force and effect as school policy.

F. The Association will represent teachers in the unit without discrimination on the basis of age race, creed, color, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or marital status and will represent equally all teachers in the unit without regard to membership or participation in any employee organization.

G. The parties recognize that strikes by teachers are contrary to public policy, and injurious to the students and the public at large. The parties therefore subscribe to the principle that differences should be resolved by peaceful means. In accordance with state law the Association agrees that during the term of this Agreement it shall not engage in a strike against the Tiverton School Department.

H. The parties recognize that educational policy and its implementation are inevitably bound by and tied to fiscal budgetary considerations and agree that allocation of its funds is reserved to the Board. It is understood and agreed that no part or provision of this Agreement shall obligate or commit or have effect to obligate or commit the Board beyond the appropriation it receives from the Town Appropriating Authority for the operation and maintenance of the Tiverton School System.

I. In the event that any part or provision of this Agreement is in conflict with any law or regulation having the effect of law, such law or regulation shall prevail so long as such conflict remains.

J. It is recognized that the care, control, custody and management of the Tiverton School System is vested in the Board and is non-delegable.

K With the permission of the Superintendent, teachers may be allowed:

1. up to three (3) days for the purpose of attending conferences and workshops of an educational nature

2. up to two (2) days for the purpose of visiting other school systems and/or local schools.
a written report of such visitations and of such meetings or conferences shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Schools.

L. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is or shall at any time be contrary to law, all other provisions of this Agreement shall continue in effect.

There will be no waiver or modifications of any of the Agreements, terms or provisions contained in this Agreement by any teacher with the Committee.

The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be modified, amended, or altered in any way unless made in writing and signed by both parties. This prohibits individual bargaining by any member of the administration.

M. Any deviation from the wording of this Contract, will be bilaterally decided by the administration and the Professional Rights and Responsibilities (PR&R) Committee of the Association, and such decision shall be made in writing and signed by both parties.

N. The Superintendent's office must be notified by December 1st of any anticipated request for change in the graduate stipend.

O. Response to Intervention Team (RtI) members shall be compensated the professional rate of $40 per meeting hour.

P. With prior permission of the Superintendent, duly accredited Union Representatives shall have access to School premises at reasonable times, for the purpose of investigating grievances and member complaints, conferring with NEA representatives and/or School Committee representatives and/or administrators regarding grievances or other matters concerning the relations between the parties.

Q. Professional Rate shall be forty dollars ($40)

R. Two Executive Committee members or two union officers may attend the funeral of current Tiverton School Department Employees who are members of the Union, without loss of pay.

S. Internal applicants for an administrative position will be given an interview provided they possess the necessary qualifications and certifications.