Assistance and Incentives for Professional Development FAQ
Here are Frequently Asked Questions about assistance and incentives available to staff who participate in various development activities. The information is based upon language in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (1997 – 2002) ARTICLE VII: COMPENSATION AND FRINGE BENEFITS. Applicable portions include J. ADVANCE ON SALARY SCHEDULE, M. TUITION, and O. DISTRICT 108 TEACHER ACADEMY, which are excerpted on the last page of this document.

1. What programs are available to help teachers pay tuition costs?

There are two ways teachers can get help with tuition costs:

1. Tuition reimbursement through the contract.
2. Tuition waivers offered by colleges and universities.
   

2. How do I get a tuition reimbursement?

There are two steps:

1. Get advance approval for the course. Approval request forms are available from the principal and must be submitted before the following deadlines listed in the contract: Fall Semester: September 1, Winter Semester: February 1, Summer Session: July 1
2. Submit proof that the course was successfully completed.

3. How much is tuition reimbursement?

For 2001-2002, tuition is reimbursed at the rate of $90 per credit hour.

4. Is there a limit to how many courses I can take?

There is no limit to the number of courses you may take at any time and apply toward advancement on the salary schedule. The contract only requires that procedures for course approval and salary advancement be completed.The contract does limit the number of course that can be approved for tuition reimbursement. Only one course of 4 hours or less may be approved in fall semester and one in spring semester. There is no limit in summer.

5. What is a tuition waiver?

Sometimes colleges and universities give tuition waivers to the district in return for allowing undergraduates to work or student teach in the schools. Each waiver is a coupon that must be redeemed under the procedures of the university that gave it. Typically, waivers are valued at the actual tuition cost for one hour of graduate credit at that university. Some universities allow more than one waiver per course. All waivers have expiration dates.

6. Who ‘owns’ a waiver?

The fact that universities give the waivers to the district means they must be accounted for as public funds of the district. On the other hand, a waiver is ‘earned’ by a teacher who should get to use it. District procedures deal with this by giving that teacher the first claim to use the waiver. If the teacher wants to use the waiver anytime before it expires, then it is reserved. If not, then it is put into the district pool of waivers.

7. How do I get a tuition waiver?

Under existing contract language, waivers are treated the same as tuition reimbursements. You should follow the procedures listed above.

8. How many waivers are available?

The number varies, because the number of undergraduates and student teachers working in the district varies. During that period when ISU sent us 40-80 undergraduates each year, there were 40-80 waivers each year. Now, however, the district pool receives only those waivers that student teacher sponsors request in lieu of the university stipend they are offered.

9. What if the number of requests for waivers is greater than the number of waivers available?

In that case, all approved requests received on or before the approval deadline (see FAQ #2, above) are put into a blind lottery from which names are picked until the waivers are gone. Those who do not receive waivers automatically receive tuition reimbursement approval.

10. Can tuition reimbursement and waivers be used for the same course?

No.

11. What proof should be submitted to verify that a course was successfully completed?

Typically, the official college grade slip or transcript is submitted to the Central Office. Recently, some colleges have been providing grade reports via Internet, and so other proofs have been worked out. If you have questions, please contact Deb Phillips at the Central Office (dmahoney@pekin.net or 477-4740).

12. What incentives are there to participate in development activities or graduate courses?

Incentives fall into 3 categories. First is salary advancement. Most everyone is familiar with how graduate courses apply to the salary schedule. The details are in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (1997 – 2002), ARTICLE VII: COMPENSATION AND FRINGE BENEFITS, J. ADVANCE ON SALARY SCHEDULE. However, some employees are unaware that, under some conditions, courses offered by the Teacher Academy and other approved courses may also apply toward advancement on the salary schedule. They are applicable only to the non-degree steps. See item VII. J. 3. for details. The next type of incentive involves a stipend paid directly to the employee. Teachers in the BA30 or MA30 columns—and who are not in a degree program—can be paid $100 for each Teacher Academy course they take. Non-certified employees who are required to take courses outside their workday receive $56. The details are in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (1997 – 2002), ARTICLE VII: COMPENSATION AND FRINGE BENEFITS, J. ADVANCE ON SALARY SCHEDULE, items 5 and 6. Finally, teachers may receive credit toward their recertification plans. The rules and procedures for this are now being developed by the LPDC (Local Professional Development Committee).

Excerpts from ARTICLE VII: COMPENSATION AND FRINGE BENEFITS

J. ADVANCE ON SALARY SCHEDULE

3. Upon proper written approval by the Superintendent or his designee, or without approval in the case of the District 108 Teacher Academy, one (1) semester hour credit applicable to the salary schedule shall be granted to a teacher who attends a workshop involving sixteen (16) hours of classroom time when university or college credit is not given by the sponsoring organization.

M. TUITION

1. The District will pay teachers $40 per semester hour for any course began during school year 1999-2000, or pro rata if on quarter hours, for an approved course of study. The benefit will increase to $65 in 2000-2001 and $90 in 2001-2002.2. Reimbursement or tuition waivers per person will be limited to one course of up to 4 hours per semester or quarter during the school year with no limit during summer school.3. Tuition waivers from the District pool will be distributed by the same procedures as reimbursements. Tuition paid with waivers from the District pool may not be submitted for reimbursement.4. Applicants for reimbursement or waivers must apply to the Assistant Superintendent before the following cut-off dates: First Semester: October 1 Second Semester: February 1 Summer Semester: July 15. The District will pay eligible teachers $100 for each credit hour of teacher academy course work completed. Eligible employees are defined as those in the BA30 or MA30 columns of the salary schedule and not in a degree program. Credit hours shall be defined as one (1) hour completed for every sixteen (16) clock hours of direct instruction.

6. The District will pay a stipend equivalent to $56 to any support staff employee required to take District provided course work outside regular work hours.

O. DISTRICT 108 TEACHER ACADEMY
The District 108 Teacher Academy includes all District sponsored classes which lead to salary enhancement.

1. On a regular basis the District Staff Development Committee, which will include a representative from each building, will:

a. monitor the alignment of coursework to the district’s strategic planb. monitor selection and effectiveness of course instructorsc. monitor the rigor of courseworkd. monitor staff development needs of the District