ARTICLE 8 - TEACHING HOURS
  1. The length of the work day shall be equal for all teachers and teacher assistants in a given school as follows: It is understood that at least twenty-five (25) minutes of the above mentioned time shall be reserved for periods before the entry of students and/or following dismissal. On Fridays, all teachers and teacher assistants shall be permitted to leave five (5) minutes after the latest designated dismissal time for students.
  2. Teachers and teacher assistants shall have a daily lunch period of at least forty (40) minutes free of assigned duties except that elementary teachers shall have rotating supervisory assignments.
  3. Teachers' schedules and assignments for the following school year shall be given to the teachers no later than June 30, if changes are made after June 30, the teachers shall be notified of the schedules, changes, or other circumstances as soon as possible after June 30.
  4. The Superintendent may, at the Superintendent's discretion, suspend after school activities in order to permit teachers to attend a general meeting of the Association.
  5. Teachers shall receive preparation time in addition to their lunch period in accordance with the following schedule:

    Elementary teachers except early childhood teachers shall receive a minimum of 200 minutes of preparation time per week. An effort shall be made to schedule preparation time on the basis of forty (40) consecutive minutes per day. Where possible, preparation time shall be scheduled for teachers of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.

    Middle School teachers shall receive a minimum of five (5) periods per week as preparation time. Efforts shall be made to schedule preparation time on the basis of one (1) period per day.

    High School teachers shall receive a minimum of five (5) periods per week as preparation time. Efforts shall be made to schedule preparation time on the basis of one (1) period per day.

    It shall be understood that all preparation time referred to above is time during which teachers shall not be assigned any other duties.

  6. Teacher assistants receive a minimum of forty (40) minutes per day of unassigned time during which they shall not be assigned any duties.
  7. Four (4) hour teaching sessions shall be established for all pre-kindergarten through 8th grade classes on the last two (2) days of school.
  8. The existing five (5) day conference schedule of four (4) hour sessions for elementary schools and the Middle School will continue. On two of these days, teachers will leave at 12:30 pm and on two other full days of school return for evening parent conferences from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
  9. Each teacher and teacher assistant covered by this Agreement shall be required to attend up to two (2) faculty or other professional meetings per month. Such meetings shall be held on Tuesdays and begin no later than five minutes after student dismissal. These meetings shall run for no more than one hour and fifteen minutes. If additional time is needed students shall be dismissed early. There will be no additional compensation for these meetings. Exception to these provisions may be made only in cases of emergency that may arise to permit building principals to administer their schools properly.


Table of Contents | Previous Article | Next Article
Return to HEA Page