The HSTA’s contract with the state is nearly 50 years in the making. Many members have contributed to the collective action and negotiations that went into our 100+ page collective bargaining agreement. It is each member’s responsibility to help protect those rights and ensure they know their rights, especially as they relate to Article VI – Teaching Conditions and Hours. As a reference, here are highlights of some key provisions:
Work year: The work year is 190 days with one day converted to six hours the administration can add to a workday for an extended day. Each year there are nine days without students; four that are teacher-directed, two days at the start of the year, one day between semesters, and one day at the end of the school year. One day is planned by HSTA, which is called Institute Day. There are also four days that are controlled by the administration, two days at the start of the year and two days for planning and collaboration.
Workweek and day: Full-time teachers should not be scheduled for more than 35 hours a week and seven hours a day. Exceptions are made for the six hours of extended time and 21 hours of job-embedded professional development (PD) a year, but they must be scheduled contiguously to the workday. In no case may the workday be scheduled to end beyond 4:30 p.m.
Instructional minutes: Teachers should not be scheduled to teach more than 180 minutes without a 15-minute break. Teachers may be asked to cover recess duty during a break on a rotational basis, but be provided no less than five minutes for a duty-free break. Total instructional minutes per week should not exceed 1,415 for elementary educators and 1,285 for secondary teachers.
Lunch: All teachers are entitled to a 30-minute duty-free lunch.
Preparation time: Classroom teachers must be provided at least 225 minutes a week of preparation time.
After school activities: Teachers’ participation in school-related activities shall be on a voluntary basis and in compliance with Article VI, AA of the contract (pg. 24)
Non-professional duties: Chores connected with lunch duty and custodial duties are not part of teachers’ job responsibilities. Maintenance and cleanliness of classrooms are the responsibility of the employer.
Substituting for absent teachers: it is a violation of the contract to require teachers to substitute for absent teachers.
Leave: Each teacher is provided 18 days of sick leave upon reporting for work on the first day of school. Of those 18 days, teachers may convert up to six days for personal or professional development leave.
(Some of the links in this article are only available to HSTA members who have registered on the website. Need to register?)