ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below

B. “Association Labor Management Team” – a committee of not more than three (3) Association members in each school selected in a manner to be determined by the Association to represent the Association in that school

C. “Board of Education” or “Board” – Board of Education of the Syracuse City School District.

D. “Budget Year/School Year” – July 1 through June 30 of each year

E. “District” – Syracuse City School District.

F. “Holiday” – a day specifically identified in the official school calendar on which schools are closed and staff members are not required to be present for duty, but for which they receive a normal and full day’s pay.

G. “In-service training” – a planned program which may include, but is not necessarily limited to, training in teaching skills and techniques, curriculum orientation, human relations, etc., conducted by personnel of the District or its consultants, for which no academic credit is awarded by a college or other institution of higher learning.

H. “Part-time Adult Program Employee” – (Vocational Instructors, Counselors, Job Developers, Remedial Instructors, Case Managers, Nurse Assistant Instructors, and Adult Education Teachers) an employee who works less than thirty-five (35) hours. Salary will be prorated by dividing the number of hours worked by thirty-five (35) hours.

I. “Part-time Teacher” – a teacher who is assigned and paid for a teaching load which constitutes less than the normal teaching duty equivalent(s).

Teaching Duty Equivalent for purposes of prorating salary shall be defined as follows:

1.0 = 5 teaching periods or 2.5 blocks average* per day, homeroom and duty assignment
0.9 = 4 teaching periods or 2 blocks average per day, homeroom and duty assignment
0.8 = 4 teaching periods or 2 blocks average per day
0.7 = 3 teaching periods or 1.5 blocks average per day, duty assignment
0.6 = 3 teaching periods or 1.5 blocks average per day, homeroom
0.5 = 3 teaching periods or 1.5 blocks average per day
0.4 = 2 teaching periods or 1 block average per day, homeroom or duty assignment
0.3 = 2 teaching periods or 1 block average per day

NOTES:

1. *Average means for a full-time teacher any combination that equals 2.5 average blocks. Examples: 3 blocks per day first semester and 2 blocks per day second semester; 2 blocks Day 1 and 3 blocks Day 2. Part-time averages will be prorated respectively.
2. Duty Assignment = 1 full period.
3. Homeroom = as determined by school.

J. “Preparation Period” – an assigned period for planning and preparation of materials related to the area of instruction and other professional purposes. Other professional purposes shall not be interpreted as meaning scheduling of other activities on a prolonged or regular basis.

K. “Regular Substitute” – a teacher who is employed for assignment to a regular teaching position in place of a regular teacher who is away from his/her position on a leave of absence, and specifically named as such by resolution of the Board. Provisions of this Agreement applicable to regular substitutes are defined in Article 9D (Employment).

L. “Representative Assembly” – the meeting of the elected representatives of the Syracuse Teachers Association, Inc., normally held the second Wednesday of each school month.

M. “School Calendar” – The District and Association will jointly develop yearly school calendars that will conform to the current number of student and staff days. Staff days shall be at least, but no more than, one hundred eighty-four (184) days. Such calendar(s) will follow the established procedures for Board and Association approval.

N. “School Week” – Monday through Friday including evening activities and events except as otherwise excluded by this Agreement.

O. “Seniority” – length of continuous service within the Syracuse City School District. Length of continuous service is from the most recent date of hire in Unit 1 in the teacher’s current tenure/certification area.

P. “Summer School Calendar” – a school calendar covering the period of the summer session.

Q. “Superintendent” – Superintendent of Schools of the Syracuse City School District.

R. “Teacher” – an employee unless the context suggests or implies otherwise, in the negotiating unit, as defined in Article 2 (Recognition)

S. “Teachers’ School Day”:

1. “Elementary School” shall mean Grades K-6. “Secondary School” shall mean Grades 7-12, including those schools operating as middle schools.
2. Beginning July 1, 2009 the normal workday for elementary and secondary schools shall not exceed six (6) hours and thirty (30) minutes. The normal workday for adult programs (Vocational Instructors, Counselors, Job Developers, Remedial Instructors, Case Managers, Nurse Assistant Instructors, and Adult Education Teachers) shall not exceed seven (7) hours. Each such normal school day, however, shall be exclusive of a thirty (30) minute duty free lunch period.
3. The beginning of the normal workday may vary from school to school depending upon transportation requirements such as bus schedules and/or other factors. Should unusual circumstances require a major deviation from the normal schedule, the parties will reduce their understanding to writing by means of a Letter of Understanding to be executed by both parties.
4. The schedule may also be varied by an individual school teaching staff in joint agreement with the principal and with the approval of the Superintendent. When a significant change in schedule is so adopted in any building, the principal shall promptly notify the Association.
5. The parties mutually agree that teachers’ professional duties and responsibilities extend beyond any specific school day. In specifying the normal workday, it is not intended to diminish the nature or extent of such professional responsibilities including, but not limited to, curriculum development, attendance at faculty meetings, lesson planning, and assisting students in need of help.
6. An employee shall not be required to attend a school function if such attendance would be in violation of the employee’s religious beliefs and convictions. Employees shall not be required to attend functions on non-school calendar days as defined in subsection N hereof, except for obligations arising out of responsibilities for which extra pay is authorized

T. “Unit” – the negotiating unit, as defined in Article 2 (Recognition).