Our Proposals

Proposals
From the Salem Teachers Union, Local 1258, AFTMA, AFT, AFL-CIO (Teacher & Paraprofessional Units)
TO
Salem School Committee

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Administrative Proposals

Subcommittee Proposal (UP1):

The Union proposes that the parties form a joint subcommittee of their respective negotiations committees to make and review any administrative proposals dealing with the wording, formatting, legal compliance, or upkeep of the contract.

Procedural Proposal (UP2)

The parties agree that if any provision of this Agreement contradicts the terms of the respective Innovation Plans at Bentley, Carlton, or New Liberty, the conflicting agreement shall be presented to teachers at the impacted school as a potential amendment to their Innovation Plan.

The Staff Our Students Deserve

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP3):

The parties recognize the importance of having schools staffed with educators and support personnel to meet the diverse needs of the ever-changing student population. The Employer shall staff every school with adequate professional direct-service providers, with reasonable caseloads, including mental health counselors, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, board certified behavior analysts.

New Language – PSRP CBA (UP4)

The Employer shall assign Registered Behavior Technicians* (RBTs) to students to assist in the implementation of student behavior plans.

*note: the parties will have to negotiate the wages hours and working conditions of any newly created position.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP5):

The Employer shall pay nurse substitutes at least three hundred dollars ($300.00) a day in order to have fully staffed nurse offices.

New Language – PSRP CBA (UP6)

In order to provide consistent educational instruction, the Employer shall provide each school with “building based educators”* equal to the average bargaining employee absence for that building. In the event the Employer needs to hire a temporary employee to cover a long-term absence, that employee shall have a defined employment term and receive all other terms and conditions of this collective bargaining agreement.

*note: the parties will have to negotiate the wages hours and working conditions of any newly created position.

Average equals the sum of absences divided by 180 school days.

Remove Language – Teacher CBA (UP7 – Contingent on UP6) Article 3, Section M

~~Pay for substitute teachers shall be $70.00 a day. Those substitutes serving twenty (20) consecutive days shall be placed on the salary schedule provided in this contract.~~

New Language – PSRP CBA (UP8)

The parties recognize the need for well-curated libraries that reflect the cultures and needs of the student population. With the exception of Salem High School, each school shall of a minimum of a half-time (0.5FTE) librarian with a Masters in Library Science Degree.

New Language – PSRP CBA (UP9)

Paraprofessionals who are currently assigned to work in a school library shall be able to apply for tuition reimbursement in order to pursue a Masters in Library Science Degree.

New Language – Teacher and PSRP CBA (UP10)

~~Where possible,~~ Facilities for a library collection for reference and circulation shall be provided in all schools. Each school shall be afforded a sufficient annual budget (TBD) to be used to acquire new books for the school collection at the determination of the school librarian. New items shall be communicated to bargaining unit employees so that they may consider how to diversify their lessons.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP11)

There shall be a full-time Middle School and High School Librarian (DESE).

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP12)

Teachers who are dual certified including at least one certification in a foreign language shall receive an annual stipend of $5,000.00.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP13)

Bilingual employees shall receive an annual stipend of $1,000.00.

Edited Language – PSRP CBA (UP14) Article 5, Section S

For undergraduate or graduate work in the field of education, paraprofessionals attending university/college classes will ~~receive $100 in~~ tuition reimbursement for tuition and fees at the rate of a Salem State University’s class. Bargaining unit employees shall be entitled to take four (4) classes per calendar year. Requests for reimbursement shall be submitted to the Office of Human Capital for approval, and shall not be unreasonably denied, prior to taking the course. Such request shall be submitted upon a form provided by the District. Paraprofessionals are responsible for submitting all of the information on the tuition reimbursement form before the course is approved.

Effective September 1, 2016, the maximum amount to be expended shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000) per fiscal year. This amount shall cover regular tuition reimbursement. The district shall develop procedures aligned to this agreement to govern the tuition reimbursement process. The procedures will align to those followed by the Salem Teachers Union, to the extent possible.

Edited Language – PSRP CBA (UP15) Article 6, Section A(1)

Job postings shall set forth, in English and in Spanish, the qualifications, requirements, duties, number of hours, salary and other pertinent information.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP16)

Job postings shall set forth, in English and in Spanish, the qualifications, requirements, duties, number of hours, salary and other pertinent information.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP17)

The Employer shall develop a teacher recruitment program that emphasizes the recruitment of individuals who are graduates of Salem Public Schools. The teacher recruitment program shall include the tracking of Salem Public Schools graduates who enter education programs in College. The Employer shall attempt to form a partnership with Salem State University to facilitate this program. The Employer shall give Salem High School Alumni hiring priority.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP18)

The parties acknowledge the benefit of committed, long-term employees bring to the District. The Employer shall not use temporary agencies, such as Teach for America, to hire bargaining unit employees.

The Health Our Students Deserve

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP19)

The parties acknowledge that in order for students to reach their full potential, there must be a well-thought student nutrition offering. The Employer shall provide well balanced healthy food options for all students. The Employer shall provide healthy snacks in schools that have extended day. The Employer shall provide free lunch and snacks for all staff.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP20)

The employer shall provide at least one (1) filtered water bubbler per school for staff and student use.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP21)

The principal will work with building union leadership to ensure that at least thirty (30) minutes of recess is provided to all students per day.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP22)

There has been academic research to show the positive benefits of mindfulness and meditation on adolescent behavior and student achievement. The Employer shall provide professional development to staff on these techniques as well as provide every school with various meditation tools (Tibetan singing bowls, yoga mats, weighted blankets, etc.).

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP23)

The Union and the Employer are committed to a school environment free of bullying. The Employer will support bargaining unit employees when principals, students, parents, and/or other employees create challenging work and learning environments for students and staff.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP24)

The Employer and the Union recognize the need for healthy working conditions for employees and healthy learning conditions for students. The employer shall annually, or at the request of the Union, inspect and treat each worksite for mold, infestations, or other hazardous conditions.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP25)

It is the goal of both the Employer and the Union to create a workplace which is safe for both the employees and students.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP26)

There shall be a Joint Labor-Management Committee on Safety to discuss safety concerns of the employees and the Employer and to make recommendations on safety issues and develop safety protocols and trainings. The committee shall meet twice per year and be comprised of two (2) management representatives appointed by the Superintendent and two (2) Union representatives appointed by the Union President.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP27)

The Employer shall schedule at least one (1) training per year to address safety concerns identified by the Joint Labor-Management Committee on Safety and/or the concerns identified by the Safety Survey. The training shall be offered to all bargaining unit employees and all shall be compensated for the hours spent at the training.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP28)

External doors to each school building shall be locked to the outside during the hours of the student day. Students at Collins Middle School and Salem High School shall be required to swipe a school identification card in order to enter the building. Staff at all schools shall be required to swipe a school identification card in order to enter the building.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP29)

The Employer shall provide a community garden and designated outdoor learning spaces at every school. A stipend in the amount of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for an employee to be responsible for overseeing the garden.

Subcommittee Proposal (UP30)

The parties shall form a negotiations subcommittee to develop best practices of student discipline and support to meet the social and emotional needs of all students.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP31)

The district shall adopt a Blizzard Bag Policy to enable students to continue with learning opportunities in the event of school cancellations.

The Leadership Our Students Deserve

Conceptual Proposal (UP32)

The parties will work together to determine fair compensation increases for the Teacher bargaining unit that would allow the district to recruit and retain the most talented educators.

Conceptual Proposal (UP33)

The minimum wage for all members of the paraprofessional bargaining unit shall be no less than an hourly rate that would equate to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per year (based on the hours and days worked by an elementary school School Aide).

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP34)

The parties acknowledge that extended learning time can be beneficial for some students, but often has a negative impact on teacher retention and stability. Teachers shall be compensated an additional 3.8% beyond their base salary for every 15 minute increment of extended learning time.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP35)

The Union is concerned about the frequency in school leadership changes and its impact on school culture and climate. Annually, the Employer will provide the Union a written plan outlining district strategies to recruit and retain high quality educational leadership.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP36)

There shall be a non-voting seat on the Salem School Committee designated for an active Salem Teachers Union member. This member shall be elected by Union members and the name shall be submitted by the Union to the Chair of the School Committee prior to the beginning of each new School Committee term.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP37)

Replace the existing Instructional Leadership Team with a building based Educator Leadership Team (ELT) Each building shall elect representatives to participate in an educator leadership team (ELT). The ELT shall meet regularly with building management to discuss operation concerns and other relevant topics to ensure that bargaining unit voice is considered. ELT’s shall include employees from both the teacher and paraprofessional bargaining units. There shall be a stipend amount of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for participating on this committee.

Conceptual Proposal (UP38)

The Employer shall voluntarily recognize the following employees:

● Behavior Specialists (and subsequently Registered Behavior Technicians);
● BCBAs;
● Family Engagement Coordinators;
● MLS Librarians;
● Any other non-affiliated support personnel

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP39)

The parties understand the important role that Innovation Schools have played in the district, and the value in partnerships with educators and parents. The employer shall not consider any potential Innovation Schools whose applicant group does not include both a Salem Public Schools parent and a Salem Public Schools teacher.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP40)

The grievance procedure outlined in collective bargaining agreement between the parties may be used to resolve violations of all aspects of an Innovation Plan which impact employee working conditions. This shall include, but is not limited to, aspects related to compensation and hours, aspects related to staff input and voice, and aspects related to school governance and decision making.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP41)

In an effort for all staff to be included in the democratic process and to increase civic engagement, the dates of all federal, state, and municipal general and preliminary elections shall be included as “dates to avoid” on the district’s calendar. There will be no district or school sponsored events scheduled after school hours on “dates to avoid.”

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP42)

The Employer shall create a program to recruit and mentor bargaining unit members, with consultation with the Union, who wish to enter school leadership positions.

The Schools Our Students Deserve

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP43)

Bargaining unit employees shall be given an annual stipend of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for classroom supplies. Bargaining unit employees shall be reimbursed for the cost of additional supplies used in the course of the school year. Reimbursement for classroom supplies will not be unreasonably denied.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP44)

All employees shall be provided with sufficient technology to properly perform their job responsibilities, such as assisting students complete work on chromebooks, and contractual employment obligations, such as viewing evaluation materials on TeachPoint.

New Language – PSRP CBA (UP45)

Any bargaining unit employee who regularly has contact with a student on an IEP shall be given the opportunity to attend any relevant IEP meetings with the student and teacher.

New Language – Teacher & PSRP CBA (UP46)

The district shall not administer any standardized assessments other than those required under state law.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP47)

The district shall create the Stipended role of District Art Coordinator to be filled by a bargaining unit employee. The District Art Coordinator will focus on developing strategies for the integration of art instruction into core academic classes.

New Language – Teacher CBA (UP48)

The district will offer foreign language instruction to all elementary school students.

Edited Language – Teacher CBA (UP49) Article 6, Section E

Elementary: Pre K-5: Every elementary teacher (Pre K-5) including resource room teachers shall be provided with at least 200 ~~160~~ of preparation time per week. Teachers shall be present during demonstration lessons given by Supervisors.

To the end of enriching curriculum, improving teaching service and providing preparation periods, the School Committee shall add needed teaching specialists as it deems necessary.

It is the intention of the District to utilize its best efforts to continue to provide two hundred (200) minutes of preparation time per week to its elementary teachers. This reflects the current practice.