General Provisions
In accordance with Education Code Section 35035, the Superintendent may assign and transfer unit members within the district, limited only by the express procedures contained in this Article.
A transfer/reassignment may be initiated by a unit member or initiated by the district.
In making transfers and reassignments, the district shall consider such educationally related criteria as:
1. Unit member request
2. District seniority
3. Previous evaluations pursuant to contract Article XIII
4. Credentials and certifications
5. College units, degrees and specialized training
6. Previous teaching experience related to the position
7. Requirements of the position
8. The needs to balance teaching skills and abilities (as specified in the Standards for the California Standards for the Teaching Profession)
The above criteria are not listed in priority order.
In considering transfers/reassignment of more than one unit member, if the district determines that the above criteria are equal, district seniority shall be the determining factor.
In the event that a unit member receives a "needs improvement" or "unsatisfactory" evaluation, the district reserves the right to consider a district initiated reassignment or district initiated transfer as options for placing the unit member in an assignment which may better suit the skills and talents of that unit member.
Definitions
"Position" - A DISTRICT determined teaching assignment
"Vacancy"- A vacancy is any position that does not have a unit member assigned to it. This includes any vacated or newly created position, including position created by reconfiguration or restructuring and any instructional programs offered by the district.
"Reassignment"- A change in grade or department assignment within a given school.
"Transfer"- The movement of a unit member from one school to another within the district.
"Retreat Rights" - The opportunity for a unit member assigned to a specialized instructional assignment (Literacy Coach, English Language Development Teacher, Teacher on Special Assignment, Site Instructional Coach, Community Day School Teacher) to voluntarily return to a previous regular class position at the end of a school year, or at dissolution of such specialized position.
Posting of Job Vacancies
The district shall post on the district's website, district e-mail and on a bulletin board at each school and the District Office, vacancies for bargaining unit positions.
Prior to making tentative assignments, the site principal will announce site vacancies and their requirements to the site staff. These vacancies shall be sent via e-mail and posted in the site office. Each vacancy announcement shall remain posted for a period of at least three (3) business days, during which time bargaining unit members may apply. Such posting(s) shall include pertinent information about the vacancy (including specific skills and other requirements) and the deadline for submitting requests for consideration. The district shall post all other vacancies for the following school year for all unit members until two weeks after the last day of school. The district may recruit outside of the district concurrently with this job posting.
The filling of vacancies at all other times shall be the purview of the district.
No assignment to fill the vacancy shall be made until after the closing date of the posting.
Unit members may submit to the District Office a written request for each such vacancy.
Unit Member Initiated Transfer
1. Request for Transfer
A unit member may submit a request for transfer or request to exercise Retreat Rights for the upcoming academic year (July 1 - June 30) to the District office at any time, whether or not a vacancy exists. Such requests shall remain on file until September 1 of the upcoming school year and will be considered as vacancies occur. A unit member may also submit a request for transfer or Retreat Rights in response to the posting of a vacancy pursuant to the procedures of this Article. After receiving all unit member requests for transfer to a specific assignment, the unit member with the most District seniority (of those who have submitted a written request) shall receive the transfer.
2. Notification of Disposition of Transfer Requests
The district shall notify the unit member of the disposition of his/her request for transfer. Upon request of the unit member, within ten (10) business days the district shall provide in writing the reasons for not being selected for the vacancy.
District Initiated Transfer
The district may initiate a transfer when there are no unit members requesting the transfer. The district shall make such transfers with minimal disruption to the bargaining unit. Prior to making any district initiated transfer, the district shall consider but not be required to transfer, unit members with requests on file and those who have responded to a posted vacancy.
Prior to a district initiated transfer, the Superintendent will schedule a meeting to discuss the reasons for the transfer with the unit member. Upon request of the unit member, an ASSOCIATION representative may attend this meeting. If the meeting cannot be scheduled with ten (10) business days, the Superintendent will provide the unit member with a notice of the transfer. Upon request of the unit member, within ten (10) business days the reasons for the transfer shall be given in writing.
The unit member shall also be given the opportunity to be considered for other vacancies which are available at the time of the impending transfer.
If a district initiated transfer involving a change in grade level or subject matter is made after the beginning of school, a unit member, upon request, shall be allowed two (2) days of release time for preparation prior to the transfer. Such release time shall be scheduled with the current Principal approval.
In addition, a transfer initiated by the district to a grade or subject matter not taught within the past two (2) years shall entitle the unit member, upon request up to two (2) days of release time during the first year of the assignment for the purposes of visitations, professional growth, meetings with mentors, planning and development of curriculum materials. Such release time shall be scheduled with the current Principal approval.
A transfer initiated by the district involving a change in grade level or subject matter shall entitle the unit member to an additional classroom materials/resources budget of $750.00. Expenditures shall be made with site Principal approval and consistent with district purchasing policies and procedures.
The district shall provide assistance in moving the unit member's materials.
A transfer of a unit member initiated by the district shall not result in a reduction of the teacher's regular salary or seniority of the unit member.
Reassignment Process
Prior to making tentative assignments, the site principal will announce site vacancies and their requirements to the site staff. These vacancies shall be sent via e-mail and posted in the site office. Each vacancy announcement shall remain posted for a period of at least three (3) business days, during which time bargaining unit member may apply. Such posting(s) shall include pertinent information about the vacancy (including specific skills and other requirements) and the deadline for submitting requests for consideration.
Unit Member-Initiated Reassignment
Unit members who wish to be considered for reassignment or exercise Retreat Rights may file a written request with the principal at any time for the upcoming academic school year (July 1 - June 30). Such requests shall remain on file until September 1 of the upcoming academic school year. After receiving all unit member requests for a specific assignment, the unit member with the most district seniority (of those who have submitted written requests) shall receive the reassignment.
District-Initiated Reassignment
Prior to making any district initiated reassignment, the Principal will schedule a meeting with the unit member to discuss the reassignment. In the event that no unit members at a site request reassignment for a specific vacancy, the vacancy shall be sent via email to all unit members and posted at all site offices for a period of at least three (3) business days, during which time, unit members may file a written request with the Superintendent requesting a transfer to fill the specific vacancy. (See Unit Member-Initiated Transfer language). The district may initiate a reassignment when there are no unit members requesting the reassignment. The district shall make such reassignments with minimal disruption to the bargaining unit.
The Principal shall give each teacher his/her tentative class assignment(s) for the upcoming school year by May 10th of the current academic school year. In the event of an occurrence after this date, such as death, resignation, change in enrollment, or other unforeseen circumstances, assignments may be changed by the Principal.
If a reassignment is made after the beginning of school, a unit member, upon request, shall be allowed two (2) days of release time for preparation prior to the reassignment. Such release time shall be scheduled with the Principal.
In addition, a unit member reassigned to a grade or subject matter not taught within the past two (2) years shall be allowed, upon request and with Principal approval, up to two (2) days of release time during the first year of the assignment for the purposes of visitations, professional growth, meetings with mentors, planning and/or development of curriculum materials.
A reassignment initiated by the district shall entitle the unit member to an additional classroom materials/resources budget of $750.00. Expenditures shall be made with site Principal approval and consistent with district purchasing policies and procedures.
The district shall provide necessary assistance in moving the unit member's materials.
Self-Contained Combination Classroom Assignment
Unit member assignment to a regular self-contained combination classroom will be for one year only unless the unit member wishes to continue with a self-contained combination class. Self-contained combination classroom assignments will be rotated among unit members at the affected grade levels on that school site. Rotation will be based on the least recent self-contained combination classroom experience and then the use of reassignment considerations cited in Section 10.1.3 above. The district will provide one (1) hour of district funded aide time for each self-contained combination class above that provided single grade classrooms at the site.
Transitional Kindergarten will not be considered for a combination classroom assignment.
Unit members assigned to a self-contained combination class will receive the following benefits beginning with the 2006-07 school year.
1. Three release days during the school year. Particular days must be on campus and approved by the building principal.
2. The district will make every effort when establishing classes to fill the self-contained combination class first.
If requested by the unit member, for the following year's assignment, the unit member assigned
a self-contained combination classroom will be returned to the previous single grade level assignment taught. If, however, pupil numbers or extenuating circumstances render this impossible, the Reassignment language above will be applied to the situation.
Policy RED BLUFF UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Adopted: June 11, 2014 Red Bluff, California