Other
Agreement Term Years — Four year agreement
This Agreement shall be for four (4) years, effective July 1, 2024, and shall continue in effect until June 30, 2028.
Grievance
Arbitration Binding — Binding arbitration under Voluntary Labor Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA)
The Union may submit the grievance to binding arbitration under the Voluntary Labor Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The Arbitrator's decision shall be binding upon the parties.
Compensation
Ba Max Salary — $35,671 annual (Step 29, 2027-2028)
Step 29, 2027-2028: $28.31 hourly, $35,671 annual salary
Compensation
Ba Min Salary — $19.00 per hour (Step 1, 2024-2025)
Year 1 Step 1: $19.00 hourly, $23,940 annual (2024-2025)
Compensation
Base Salary Increase Yr1 — Steps 1-10: $1.50 per hour; Steps 11-20: $1.75 per hour; Steps 21+: $2.00 per hour
2024-2025: Increase over 2023-2024-Steps 1-10 $1.50 per hour, Steps 11-20 $1.75 per hour, Steps 21+ $2.00 per hour.
Compensation
Base Salary Increase Yr2 — 5% increase
2025-2026: 5% increase
Compensation
Base Salary Increase Yr3 — 3.50% increase
Increase 3.50%
Leave
Bereavement Days — Bereavement leave per incident of death
Certified Staff may use two (2) days, per incidence of death, per work year, for leave connected with the death of an 'Immediate Family' member of the Employee without deduction from sick leave.
Leave
Child Care Leave Max Duration — Child care leave shall be for a period of up to one full semester and any fraction of another semester. In summer months, may be for one full year
Child care leave shall be for a period of up to one full semester and any fraction of another semester. This fractional part of the semester must begin at the beginning of said leave. In the event, however, that the child care leave commences in summer months such leave may be for a period of one full year.
Leave
Child Care Leave Notice Requirement — Certified Staff must submit written request for child care leave at least three months before leave is to begin, unless exceptions are granted by Director
Upon written request submitted to the Director by a Certified Staff, at least three (3) months before the leave is to begin (unless exceptions are granted by the Director), the Board will grant an unpaid child care leave under the following conditions:
Leave
Child Care Leave Return Notification Semester1 — If intending to return for beginning of first semester, written notification to Director by March 1
If a Certified Staff intends to return for the beginning of the first semester of a school year, written notification shall be made by the Certified Staff to the Director by March 1 of the same calendar year.
Leave
Child Care Leave Return Notification Semester2 — If intending to return for beginning of second semester, written notification to Director by October 31
If a Certified Staff intends to return for the beginning of the second semester of a school year, written notification shall be made by the Certified Staff to the Director by October 31 of the same school year.
Other
Classroom Supplies Annual — $400 supplies allowance annually
Each Certified Staff will receive an allowance of $400 for supplies annually.
Workday
Contract Days Teacher — Training shall be provided for teacher assistants
Training shall be provided for teacher assistants to ensure they properly meet the physical, mental and emotional needs of the students with whom they are assigned to work.
Insurance
Employee Premium Share Pct — Board contribution for health insurance premium
The Board shall contribute 90% of the annual single premium rate for single or family coverage for purchase of said health and dental insurance for current full time employees.
Evaluation
Evaluation Cycle Years — Tenured Certified Staff who have received a rating of Proficient or Excellent will be evaluated every three years unless at least 60 calendar days notice is provided
Tenured Certified Staff who have received a rating of "Proficient" or "Excellent" will be evaluated every three (3) years unless at least 60 calendar days' notice is provided to the staff member in consultation with the director.
Grievance
Grievance Steps — Four-step grievance procedure: Step 1 informal discussion, Step 2 written grievance to coordinator, Step 3 appeal to Director, Step 4 binding arbitration
Step 1: informal verbal discussion. Step 2: written grievance within 21 days. Step 3: appeal to Director within 10 days. Step 4: binding arbitration within 30 days of Director's decision.
Insurance
Health Single Premium — Board contributes 80% of annual single premium rate for single or family coverage
The Board shall contribute 80% of the annual single premium rate for single or family coverage for purchase of said health and dental insurance for current full time teacher assistants.
Workday
Instructional Minutes Day — Work day shall not be less than 7.5 hours daily, inclusive of 7-hour work day and 30 minute duty free lunch
the work day of a Certified Staff will not be less than 7.5 hours daily, which is inclusive of a 7-hour work day and a 30 minute duty free lunch.
Compensation
Lane Advancement Allowed — Horizontal advancement on the salary schedule shall be granted for graduate studies satisfactorily completed so long as such studies relate to the Certified Staff's duties within the Cooperative and the Certified Staff has secured prior written approval from the Director.
Horizontal advancement on the salary schedule shall be granted for graduate studies satisfactorily completed so long as such studies relate to the Certified Staff's duties within the Cooperative and so long as the Certified Staff has secured prior written approval for such graduate studies from the Director.
Leave
Leave Of Absence Allowed — Leave of absence without pay for health, professional study or family care responsibilities may be granted to tenured Certified Staff for period of one year or less upon recommendation of Director
Leave of absence without pay for health, professional study or family care responsibilities may be granted to a tenured Certified Staff by the Board for a period of one (1) year or less upon recommendation of the Director.
Leave
Leave Of Absence Notice Requirement — Certified Staff desiring leave of absence must notify Director in writing at least sixty days prior to leave date; Director may waive in emergencies
A Certified Staff desiring a leave of absence shall notify the Director, in writing, of his/her desire to take such leave at least sixty (60) days prior to the date on which the leave is requested to begin; provided, however, that the Director may, in the exercise of his/her discretion, waive the sixty (60) day notice requirement in instances of emergency.
Compensation
Ma Max Salary — $72,456
MA Step 23: $72456
Compensation
Ma Min Salary — $50,649
MA Step 1: $50649
Other
Mentor Stipend — $800 mentor stipend
Mentors will be compensated with a eight hundred dollar ($800.00) stipend.
Other
No Strike Provision — No strike clause
No Certified Staff covered by this Agreement, nor the union shall ever promote, sponsor, engage in or condone any strike, concerted stoppage of work, refusal to render full and complete services.
Compensation
Off Schedule Bonus Yr1 — Recruitment Sign-On Bonus of $3,000 in two installments
Teacher assistants newly employed by SOWIC during the term of this contract shall be paid a signing bonus of $3000 in two installments: $1500 by June 30 after completion of one full school term; $1500 after completion of second consecutive term.
Leave
Personal Days Annual — Personal leave days per school year
Each Certified Staff may be granted, upon approval of the Director (2) personal leave days (with pay) each school year. Personal leave shall be non-cumulative
Other
Personnel File Review Rights — Certified Staff has right to review materials in personnel file and answer materials within twenty-one calendar days
No materials shall be placed in the personnel file unless the Certified Staff receives a copy of said material. A Certified Staff will have the right to answer such material, in writing, within twenty- one (21) calendar days and his/her answer shall be attached to the corresponding file material.
Other
Personnel File Rights — Teacher assistant has 21 days to respond to materials in personnel file
A teacher assistant will have the right to answer such material, in writing, within twenty-one (21) calendar days and his/her answer shall be attached to the corresponding file material.
Leave
Pregnancy Disability Leave Allowed — Certified Staff who becomes pregnant shall receive, upon request, a pregnancy-related disability leave of absence
Any Certified Staff who becomes pregnant shall receive, upon request, a pregnancy-related disability leave of absence. The request to the Director shall include a physician's statement certifying the pregnancy.
Other
Retirement Incentive Health Insurance Monthly — $100/month health insurance premium subsidy
Board shall pay the Employee portion of single health insurance premium for TRIP Benefit Choice Options up to maximum of $100/month until age Medicare eligibility.
Other
Retirement Incentive Post Retirement Distribution — $8,000 post-retirement one-time distribution
Board will provide retired Certified Staff with 4-year notice a post-retirement one-time non-pensionable distribution of $8,000 payable in July following retirement.
Retirement
Retirement Pickup Pct — Board withholding of employee TRS contribution
the Board shall, as a benefit to the employees, withholding nine percent (9.0%) of each employee's compensation provided herein for said employee's contribution to the Teacher's Retirement System
Retirement
Retirement System — TRS (Teachers Retirement System)
Any full-time Certified Staff eligible to retire under TRS, with the required amount of service with SOWIC, for whom the Board is not required to pay any TRS penalty.
Rif
Rif Recall Years — If reduction in force necessary, least senior teacher assistant dismissed first
If a reduction in force is necessary, the teacher assistant with the least seniority will be dismissed first. Remaining teacher assistants may be transferred to meet the needs of SOWIC.
Compensation
Salary Lanes Count — 6 salary lanes
Columns: BA, BA15, MA, MA15, MA30, EdD/PhD
Compensation
Salary Steps Count — 23 steps on salary schedule
STEP 1-23 with corresponding BA, BA15, MA, MA15, MA30, EdD/PhD columns
Other
Seniority Definition — Length of continuous service with Cooperative commencing when officially hired by Board on full-time basis
Seniority is the length of continuous service with the Cooperative and shall commence when a teacher assistant is officially hired by the Board on a full-time basis.
Leave
Sick Days Annual — 11 days for years 1-2
Teacher assistants shall be granted the following annual sick leave, to be used in conformance with the law according to his/her annual employment with the Board. Years 1-2: 11 Days per Year
Leave
Sick Leave Max Days — Unused sick leave accumulates to 240 days maximum
Unused sick leave will accumulate to a total of two hundred forty (240) days excluding the annual sick leave allotment.
Compensation
Step Increase — Teacher assistants substituting for regular teachers receive regular hourly rate plus $5.00 per hour
In the event that a teacher assistant holding a valid teacher's or substitute teacher's license substitutes for a regular teacher, the teacher assistant shall be compensated at the teacher assistant's regular hourly rate plus $5.00 per hour.
Other
Transfer Reassignment Deadline — Certified Staff requests for transfer to another building or reassignment must be submitted in writing to the Director no later than April 30
Certified Staff requests for transfer to another building shall be submitted in writing to the Director no later than April 30. Certified Staff requests for reassignment to teach a different grade level or subject area shall be submitted in writing to the Director no later than April 30.
Other
Tuition Reimbursement Max Annual — $1,400 maximum annual reimbursement
SOWIC Certified Staff will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1400 per year for coursework completed in graduate level courses pre-approved by Director.
Other
Vacancy Internal Posting Period — Certified Staff shall have five days from first posting to submit a letter of application prior to external candidates being interviewed and hired
A list of Cooperative vacancies, including the location, if known, shall be available to all members of the Certified Staff via the Cooperative website. The Certified Staff shall have five (5) days from first posting to submit a letter of application prior to external candidates being interviewed and hired.
Other
Workshop Conference Allowance — $400 workshop/conference allowance annually
Each Certified Staff will receive an allowance of $400 for workshop/conference attendance annually.