GCMA-TEACHER PREPARATION TIME

File: GCMA

TEACHER PREPARATION TIME

The MSAD #11 Board recognizes that, in addition to assigned classroom responsibilities, teachers devote a considerable number of hours each week to a variety of tasks that contribute to student learning. These tasks include preparing for classes, enriching the school environment, correcting assignments, working with individual students or small groups, returning contracts from parents and other staff, meeting with other staff about individual students or planning instructional programs, and paperwork that cannot be done during instructional time.

The MSAD #11 Board supports the provision of reasonable teacher preparation time within the school day in accordance with the following guidelines:

A. Except in cases of inclement weather or other emergency:

1. Whenever possible in the judgment of the principal without
overburdening available educational technicians, elementary school
teachers shall receive a minimum of 30 minutes preparation time in lieu of performing daily lunchtime duties, in addition to the three preparation periods per week when students are scheduled to be with itinerant teachers. Any lunchtime duties will be assigned to teachers on an equitable rotating basis.

2. Whenever possible, middle school and high school teaches will receive at
least 400 minutes bi-weekly for preparation time, during the student day.

B. In cases of inclement weather, educational technicians will to the extent possible
in the judgment of the principal without overburdening them be used on a rotating basis to cover as many classrooms as possible before teachers are asked or assigned, on an equitable rotating basis, to provide such coverage.

As used in this policy, the term “inclement weather” means weather conditions which do not permit students safely to leave the school building and be supervised outdoors.

C. In emergencies, teachers are expected to provide duty coverage which will be
arranged by building administrators on an equitable rotating basis. At the elementary level, educational technicians will to the extent possible in the judgment of the principal without overburdening them first be used to provide such coverage before it is assigned to teachers.

The term “emergency” includes cases where staff is unavailable as a result of sick leave or other reason.

Adopted: November 15, 2001

Revised: September 2, 2004; April 2, 2009