Bargaining report from Wednesday, Sept. 10th

The meeting covered various topics, including job descriptions, MOUs, and updates:

• Job Descriptions: Adjustments made to Program Specialist: Prevention & Intervention, District Lead Teacher & Mentor (formerly the TOSA JD), and Assistive Technology Specialist roles.  There was follow up discussion about the need for standardizing titles and clarifying roles, especially for staff support and internal mobility.  The FCUSD team will bring some suggestions to the table for review in October which might adjust the above titles.

• MOUs: Reviewed agreements on Collaboration Time for SpEd Preschool, TK Prep Time, and early retirement incentives. In particular, the TK prep time is presenting challenges for sites with am/pm models.  TK has to maintain a 10:1 ratio by law (and to receive funding).  This staffing need plus some confusion over the language “both teachers take a prep together during these two sessions” when scheduling this year’s PE prep schedule has created challenges.  In the short term, prep schedules at schools with an am/pm TK/K are being reviewed to be sure that at least one of the preps are together for this year.  In the longer term, a working group will be convened to examine all the MOUs and contract language connected to this item with a goal to give direction for principals on building their schedules next year and to problem solve some of the issues that have arisen with the expansion of TK.

• Updates: Went over Instructional Calendars for 26-27 and 27-28.  Instructional calendars are now built based upon board policies 6111 and 6115 which dictate holidays, scheduling of spring break and other items.   The new Evaluation Pilot is underway at several sites.  Administrators at piloting sites received training in July.  Future m monthly principals meetings will include follow up training for all district administrators in anticipation of next year.  Teachers participating in the pilot received an all day training on Sept. 3rd or 5th.  Training included information that principals had received in July as well as an overview of the Methods of Instruction (MOI) that is in district wide use and completed their goals in TalentEd.  A survey will be sent out soon on the roll out and goal setting.  There are planned video updates via staff meetings for this year to update everyone on the progress on updating our very out-of-date process in Article 12 of our contract.