EXTENDED WORK YEAR

 

As per Article XIV - Extended Work Year of the teacher's contract, on a voluntary basis, any member of the staff may work over the summer months, on an approved project, and be compensated at the rate of $250/day.  The length of the day will be equivalent to a school day during the traditional school year, six and one-half hours, exclusive of lunch, beginning no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and finishing no later than 4:00 p.m.  A teacher may elect to work up to two (2) days during the months of July and August.  The district, at its sole discretion, may invite individuals to work additional days to a maximum of five (5).  These days must be selected from a list posted with the annual school calendar.  An administrator will be available for consultation on the indicated days.

 

Although all staff members interested in working under this program must submit a letter of intent on the approved form (as attached) including a description of how they will use these days to the building principal by March 15th, it is imperative that staff commence the thought process for an extended work year project upon return to school in September.  The staff members will receive approval or suggestions for altering their proposal to make one that is acceptable by May 1.

 

Logs of the time worked and of the work done will be kept by each teacher.  These logs will be submitted to the individual principals by the first week in September and kept on file in each building.  A copy of these logs will be forwarded to the M.F.T. President.  Staff will be paid for this work by November 1. 

 

A teacher may use, as part of this work, Educational Conference(s) or workshops.  Attendance at conferences or workshops must be requested through the building principal by March 15th.  Attendance at conferences or workshops may not be approved unless the conference is to provide the impetus for the development of new curriculum and/or support an educational program initiated by an administrator.  Staff members electing this option will bear all expenses for participation and attendance at the approved conference/workshop including the local BOCES conference/workshop.  Staff members must submit a conference request form to attend the approved conference/workshop, and, should indicate on the form that it is part of an extended work year project.  Education Law prohibits BOCES from billing individuals for workshops.  The District will be billed for staff participation and the District will deduct the cost of the workshop program from the extended work year pay of staff members.  Proof of attendance at an approved conference/workshop will be filed with a claim sheet to the building principal by the end of the first week in September.  The District will then pay the staff member for the work days rendered by November 1.

 

Attendance at summer conferences/workshops beyond an extended work year project may be approved at the discretion of administration.

 

The following people are available as resources in order to facilitate the development of Extended Work Year Projects:  District-level administrators, building principals, directors, subject-level coordinators, grade-level coordinators, and your fellow teachers.  Further, documents on Learning Standards, Core Curriculum and state assessments are good resources to rely on while planning your extended work year project.

 

Projects should focus on integrating and/or implementing one or more of the following:

(1)  New York State Learning Standards and Performance Indicators

(2)  New York State Core Curriculum

(3)  New York State Revised Assessment System

(4) Development of parallel local assessment systems to support NYS Learning Standards

(5)  Other areas as outlined in the annual EWY letter mailed to staff in December

 

Exceptions to curriculum related extended work year projects would be in the following areas:  counselors, nurses, librarians, and school psychologists.

 

Projects will not be designed to specifically write, modify, or adapt daily lesson plans.

 

Finally, summer projects initiated and approved by administration outside of the concept of the extended work year projects, must be requisitioned for through the budget process for consideration to occur.  Naturally, the availability of money and the value of the non-extended work year project to the District will determine if such projects will be part of the budget.  Payment of these projects will be at a stipend rate if approved through the budget process.