The educators at all levels of the VICTOR VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT strive to provide the highest possible quality of education.  In order for students to succeed in learning, teachers must succeed in teaching.  Therefore, the above-mentioned parties agree to cooperate in the design and implementation of programs that will improve the quality of instruction through expanded and improved professional development and teacher peer assistance.  Teachers referred to, or who volunteer for the programs are viewed as valuable professionals.  They deserve the best resources available in the interest of improving performance to a successful standard.

 Implementation will be in three stages:

            1.         Selection and training of the Joint Panel.

            2.         Application and training of Consulting Teachers.

            3.         No teacher will be referred until stages 1 and 2 are complete.

15.1                 JOINT PANEL (JP)

            15.1.1  Configuration

                        The Peer Assistance Program will be administered by the Joint Panel

which shall consist of no more than four (4) administrators selected by the

Superintendent, and five (5) classroom teachers selected by the

Association.  The first Panel will be chaired by a Teacher Representative,

and the second year by a member selected by the District.  The chair will

thereafter rotate on an annual basis between Classroom Teachers and

Administration members selected by a vote of the Panel.

15.1.2  Panel Year

                        A Panel year is defined as July 1 to June 30 of the following year.

            15.1.3 Panel Term

                        The initial term of service for Panel members shall be no more than three

(3) three-years and no less than one (1). To be eligible for a subsequent

term, Panel members must be off the Panel for at least one (1) year

before re-selection.

            15.1.4  Replacing a Panel Member

                        If a vacancy occurs, the Joint Panel will request a replacement from the

appropriate group, either VVTA or the District.

15.1.5  Compensation

                     The Panel members will generally meet outside of their regular workday

and will be compensated at $30.00 per hour.  The cost of the Panel must

be covered by the PAR program budget.

15.2          JOINT PANEL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

15.2.1    Administration of the PAR program.

15.2.1

15.2.2    The Joint Panel shall solicit applications for Consulting Teachers and evaluate all applications based upon minimum qualifications for the PAR program.

15.2.3    The Joint Panel shall establish its procedures and meeting schedule.  The Panel shall meet at least quarterly.  To convene a meeting, at least five (5) members of the Joint Committee must be present, which must include at least (3) teachers.

15.2.4    A cumulative FAR (Fiscal Activity Report) shall be generated for Joint Panel committee members by the twenty-fifth (25^th) of the month.  The PAR panel will review the FAR at least quarterly.

15.2.5    The Joint Panel shall use a simple majority vote for decision making.

15.2.6    The Joint Panel shall accept or reject non-referrals (refer to the Participating Teacher definitions section) based on availability of consulting teachers.

15.2.7    The Joint Panel shall meet with the Consulting Teachers to review plans and receive reports.

15.2.8    The Joint Panel may collaborate with other teacher support programs outside the district.

            15.2.9    The Joint Panel shall oversee the training of Consulting Teachers.

            15.2.10The Joint Panel shall evaluate the impact of the Peer Assistance Review Program no later than April 1 annually; in order to improve the program including:

    15.2.10.1                  Number of unsatisfactory evaluation referrals

                            15.2.10.2                  Number of Beginning Teachers to receive assistance

                            15.2.10.3                  Number of permanent volunteer participants

    15.2.10.4                  Training needs of Consulting Teachers

    15.2.10.5                  Training needs of the Joint Panel

    15.2.10.6                 Release time needed by Consulting Teachers, Joint Committee, and Participating Teacher(s)

    15.2.10.7                 Revenue and Expenditures

15.2.11The Joint Panel shall develop a method to evaluate Consulting Teachers.

15.2.12The Joint Panel shall evaluate Consulting Teachers and their documentation  at least once a year.

15.2.13The Joint Panel shall develop a PAR budget subject to Board approval.

15.2.14Members of the Joint Panel shall refrain from participation in discussion and  voting on any matter in which he/she has a professional or personal conflict of interest.

15.2.15The Joint Panel shall monitor the progress of Participating Teacher intervention.

15.2.16The Joint Panel shall review the assistance provided to the Referred Teacher and shall determine whether or not the Referred Teacher has been afforded sustained assistance in accordance with Education Code 44500.

15.2.17The Joint Panel shall monitor the progress of Referred Teacher intervention including making the decision regarding the success of such intervention and so advising the board of education.

15.2.18Results of an employee’s participation in PAR shall be made available as part of the evaluation conducted pursuant to Education Code Section 44662.

15.2.19The Referred Teacher shall have the right to submit a written response and have it attached to the final report.  The Referred Teacher shall also have the right to request a meeting with the Joint Panel, and to be represented at this meeting by the Association representative of his or her choice.

15.2.20The Joint Panel shall maintain confidentiality related to deliberations, evaluations, reports, and other personnel matters, subject to the following exceptions:

15.2.20.1                  In response to subpoena or order of the court.

15.2.20.2                 The final report may be used by the district in any employment action based upon instructional performance.

15.2.21Other such incidental duties as may be needed to carry out the functions enumerated above, including the establishment of rules to guide its deliberations.

15.3          JOINT PANEL FUNDING

15.3.1    Not more than five percent (5%) of the funds received by the school district for the PAR program may be expended for administrative costs of the PAR program.

15.3.2    The PAR budget must maintain a three percent (3%) reserve.

15.3.3    It is understood and agreed that this program shall terminate if for any reason there exists an inability for adequate funding as determined by the panel.

15.3.4    The PAR program must be budgetarily self-sustaining.

15.3.5    The Joint Panel will prioritize services to tenured teachers in the following order:

15.3.5.1                      Referred Teachers (see definition in 15.4.1.1)

15.3.5.2                      Voluntary PAR referrals

15.3.5.3                      Individual teachers with special needs

15.3.5.4                      Professional Growth

15.4          PARTICIPATING TEACHERS

15.4.1    DEFINITIONS

15.4.1.1  A Referred Teacher is a permanent classroom teacher not on temporary status and not covered by another program, who shall participate in PAR as a result of an overall unsatisfactory evaluation in the areas of teaching methods and/or instruction on his/her evaluation, pursuant to Education Code 44554(b).

15.4.1.2  “Overall Unsatisfactory” for the purposes of this section means the classroom teacher received an unsatisfactory on a minimum of three (3) elements within two (2) of the first five (5) domains of the standards or two (2) elements within three (3) of the first five (5) domains of the standards.(See Appendix 1)

15.4.1.3  An “Overall Needs to Improve” on his/her formal written evaluation for two consecutive years in two/three or more of the first five (5) domains of the standards of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession in the areas of teaching methods and/or instruction pursuant to Education Code 44664(b), three or more “Needs to Improve” and/or “Unsatisfactory” elements within each of two of the first five (5) domains of the standards or two or more “Needs to Improve” and/or “Unsatisfactory” elements within each of three (3) of the first five (5) domains of the standards constitute an “Unsatisfactory” formal written evaluation for the purposes of referral to PAR.*(See Appendix 1)

15.4.1.4  A Volunteer Teacher is a teacher not on temporary status and not covered by another program, that volunteers to participate in the PAR program.  Volunteer Teachers may terminate their participation in the PAR Program at any time.

15.4.2    PARTICIPATING TEACHER PROCEDURE

15.4.2.1    Participating Teachers may select their Consulting Teacher from the appropriate list with the advice and consent of the Joint Panel.

15.4.2.2    Participating Teachers may request in writing a replacement of their Consulting Teacher.  The request, containing the reasons for the exchange, shall be submitted to the Joint Panel for approval.

15.4.3    CONFIDENTIALITY

15.4.3.1    All communication between the Consulting Teacher and a Volunteer Teacher shall be confidential, and shall not be shared with others without the written consent of the Volunteer.

15.4.3.2    All communication between the Consulting Teachers and Referred Participants will be confidential except for the goals, objectives, and final report, which shall be shared with the Joint Panel.

15.4.3.3    Participating Teachers have the right to be represented through these procedures by the Association representative of their choice during meetings with an administrator or Joint Panel.

15.4.3.4    The Participating Teacher shall receive a copy of all of his/her PAR reports.

15.4.3.5    Referred Teachers shall have the right to attach a written response to the final report.   Referred Teachers shall also have the right to request a meeting with the Joint Panel, and to be represented at this meeting by the Association representative of their choice.

15.4.3.6    PAR is not grievable but this article does not expand nor diminish the unit member’s ability to rebut an administrative evaluation procedure pursuant to the negotiated contract between the parties.

15.4.3.7    All teachers may take part in training, seminars, and workshops offered by the Joint Panel based on availability with priority given to Referred participants.

15.4.4    PARTICIPATING TEACHER TERM

15.4.4.1    The term of the program for Referred Participants is not to exceed two (2) years after referral to the program.

15.4.4.2    The Joint Panel shall evaluate Consulting Teacher’s reports to determine if Participating Teachers have met their goals and shall be released from the PAR Program.

15.4.4.3    Volunteer Participants’ status will terminate with the end of the school year.  They may resubmit a request to volunteer at the beginning of the next school year.

15.5          CONSULING TEACHER

15.5.1    CONSULTING TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS:

15.5.1.1    A Consulting Teacher is a teacher who provides assistance to Participating Teachers pursuant to the PAR Program. The following shall constitute qualifications:

15.5.1.2    A credentialed classroom teacher with permanent status and a full load of students (professional clear, single subject, life credential, or designated subject credential)

15.5.1.3    The Consulting Teacher shall have substantial recent experience in classroom instruction.

15.5.1.4    The Consulting Teacher shall have completed a minimum of five years as a teacher with a minimum of three consecutive school years as an employee of the school district in a position requiring certification qualifications.

15.5.1.5    The Consulting Teacher must be a member of the bargaining unit.

15.5.1.6    Shall demonstrate exemplary teaching ability as indicated by effective communication skills, subject matter knowledge, and mastery of a range of teaching strategies necessary to meet the needs of pupils indifferent contexts.

15.5.2    CONSULTING TEACHER APPLICATION

15.5.2.1    Each Consulting Teacher applicant is required to submit three (3) references from individuals with specific knowledge of his or her expertise, as follows:

15.5.2.1.1    A reference from a site principal or immediate supervisor.

15.5.2.1.2    A reference from an Association representative.

15.5.2.1.3    A reference from another classroom teacher.

15.5.2.1.4    Each Consulting Teacher applicant is required to have a classroom observation by a minimum of two (2) members of the Joint Panel.

15.5.2.1.5    All applications and references shall be treated with confidentiality.

15.5.3    CONSULTING TEACHER TERM AND RELEASE TIME

 

15.5.3.1    The applicants, after meeting all of the above criteria, shall be placed on the Consultant List.

15.5.3.2    Those on the Consultant List will become consultants only after being chosen by a Participating Teacher with reimbursement as a Consulting teacher,

15.5.3.3    Consulting Teachers may be on the list for two years before they have to reapply.

15.5.3.4    A Consultant shall not continue as a consultant if they are assigned to a non-teaching assignment or if they are no longer a member of the bargaining unit.

15.5.3.5    Consulting Teachers shall be provided release time based on a plan approved by the Joint Panel.

15.5.3.6    A Consulting Teacher shall be evaluated by the Joint Panel at least once a year.

15.5.4    CONSULTING TEACHER PROCEDURE

15.5.4.1         A Consulting Teacher shall meet with the Participating Teacher and the evaluating supervisor, either together or separately to establish mutually agreed upon performance goals.

15.5.4.2         The Consulting Teacher and the Participating Teacher shall develop an assistance plan to determine successful completion of the PAR program. This plan will be submitted to the Joint Panel within thirty (30) days of appointment.

15.5.4.3         The Consulting Teacher must solicit input from the evaluating supervisor at least once a semester to determine if improved performance has occurred toward the mutually agreed upon goals.

15.5.4.4         The Consulting Teacher shall monitor the progress of the Referred Teacher and conduct no less than six (6) observations per year of the Participating Teacher during classroom instruction, and shall have both pre-observation and post-observation conferences, and shall provide periodic written reports to them for discussion and review.

15.5.4.5         A copy of the Consulting Teacher’s report shall be discussed with Referred Teachers to receive their input and signature before it is submitted to the Joint Panel.  The Participating Teacher’s signature does not necessarily signify agreement, but rather that he or she has received a copy of the report.  The Consulting Teacher must submit the final report to the Joint Panel.

15.5.4.6         Functions performed pursuant to this Article by bargaining unit members shall not constitute either management or supervisory functions.  Consulting Teachers shall continue all rights of bargaining unit members.

15.5.4.7         Assignment load will be based on the following point system:

15.5.4.7.1    A Referred Teacher = Seven (7) points

15.5.4.7.2    A Voluntary Teacher = Four (4) points

15.5.4.8          Consulting Teachers shall have the responsibility for no more than fifteen (15) points during a school year.

15.5.4.9          Consulting Teachers have the right to refuse a request for consultation by a Participating Teacher.

15.5.4.10      A Consulting Teacher shall be compensated based on the point load.  Each point is worth $300.

15.6          HOLD HARMLESS

15.6.1    The District shall defend and hold harmless individual Joint Panel members and Consulting Teachers from any lawsuit or claim arising out of the performance of their duties under this program as provided by the California Government Tort Claims Act.

15.6.2    The District shall indemnify and provide a defense for the Consulting Teacher against any claims, causes of action, damages, grievance, administrative proceedings, or any other litigation arising from the Consulting Teacher’s participation in the Peer Assistance and Review Program.