Title: LA2-CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Recommendation:

I recommend that the School Board approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the School District of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Associaton that authorizes Recruitment Incentives for new hires certified in designated critical staff subject areas who agree to teach at a participating Title I School, and establishes a tuition reimbursement program that assists teachers currently assigned to a participating Title I School to obtain certification in a critical staff subject area.

Description:

• The Agreement will be effective for 2006-2007 school year and thereafter.
• The incentive is designed to allow the District to control costs through the annual designation of eligible subject areas, incentive values and number of tiers.
• The Agreement authorizes the designation of up to four different tiers of Title I schools with the value of the incentive varying.
• The assignment of a participating Title I school to a tier will be based on the percentages of the student population receiving free or reduced lunch.
• Eligibility for the Recruitment Incentive is based on the new hire being certified in one of the designated critical staff subject areas and must agree to teach in that area at a Title I School for four school years.
• The incentive will be paid in two installments:  one within thirty days of employment and the second within thirty days of the beginning of the second school year of employment.
• The Incentives will be prorated for new hires employed after October 1 of any year.  A payback provision provides for a repayment to the District should the employee leave the District during his/her four school year commitment period.
• For teachers currently assigned to a Title I School who agree to stay at the Title I School for two additional school years after they complete certification in a critical staff subject area, the District will provide tuition reimbursement of up to $244.12 per semester hour for courses that lead to certification in one of the critical staff subject areas.  In addition, the District and CTA will work to establish a Graduate Degree Program at a local University/College that will allow eligible teachers to simultaneously become certified in a high need area and obtain an Advanced Degree.

Financial Impact:

The estimated financial impact to the District's FY2007 Special Revenue - Other Funds budget is $2,048,000. The source of funds is the Federal Title II grant budget.

For Additional Information, contact:
Joseph M. Moore (moorej@palmbeach.k12.fl.us); James Hayes, Jr. (hayesja@palmbeach.k12.us); Van V. Ludy (ludy@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

Attachments (list):
Recruitment MOU.pdf