AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN
Bloomington Board of Education
School District 87
Bloomington, Illinois
AND
BLOOMINGTON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
(Paraprofessionals)
Bloomington, Illinois
2011-2012 Through 2012-2013
CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1: RECOGNITION AND DEFINITIONS
1.1Recognition...... 1
1.2Definitions...... 1
ARTICLE 2: EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1Employer Rights...... 1
2.2Surveillance...... 1
ARTICLE 3: ASSOCIATION RIGHTS
3.1Association Dues...... 2
3.2Discrimination Against Employees...... 3
3.3Rights to Organize...... 3
3.4Use of Employer’s Facilities...... 3
3.5Fair Share...... 3
3.6Posting of Vacancies...... 4
3.7No Strikes...... 4
3.8No Lockouts...... 5
ARTICLE 4: EMPLOYEE PROTECTION
4.1Rules and Regulations...... 5
4.2Discipline...... 5
4.3Review of Personnel File...... 5
4.4Complaints Regarding an Employee...... 6
4.5Assault Upon an Employee...... 6
4.6Health and Safety...... 6
4.7Sexual Harassment...... 6
ARTICLE 5: GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
5.1Definition...... 6
5.2Procedures...... 7
5.3Other Provisions...... 8
ARTICLE 6: HOURS OF WORK
6.1Work Year...... 8
6.2Workday...... 8
6.3Probationary Period...... 9
6.4Last Day of School...... 9
6.5Professional Development...... 9
ARTICLE 7: WAGES AND RELATED BENEFITS
7.1Wages...... 9
7.2Four Seasons Association...... 9
7.3Tax Sheltered Annuity...... 9
7.4HMO and Group Medical Plans...... 9
7.5Life Insurance...... 11
7.6Pay Days...... 11
ARTICLE 8: LEAVES
8.1Sick Leave...... 12
8.2Leave for Personal Business...... 12
8.3Use of Sick Leave or Leave for Personal Business for Less
Than One-Half Day...... 13
8.4Jury Service...... 13
8.5Leave for Military Service...... 13
8.6Leave for Educational Meeting...... 13
8.7General Leave of Absence Without Salary...... 14
8.8Association Leave Days...... 14
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ARTICLE 9: EMPLOYEE EVALUATION
9.1Employee Evaluations...... 14
ARTICLE 10: SENIORITY AND LAYOFFS
10.1Seniority...... 15
10.2Voluntary Transfers...... 15
10.3Layoff...... 15
ARTICLE 11: LIMITATION OF AGREEMENT
11.1Conformity to Law...... 15
11.2Complete Agreement...... 16
ARTICLE 12: TERMINATION AND NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES
12.1Contract Period...... 16
12.2Modification...... 16
APPENDIX
Hourly Wage Rates: 2011-2012, 2012-2013...... 17
AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN
BLOOMINGTON BOARD OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL DISTRICT 87, AND
BLOOMINGTON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL, IEA-NEA
This Agreement is made and entered into by and between Bloomington Board of Education of School District 87, Bloomington, Illinois (hereinafter referred to as the “Employer”), and the Bloomington Educational Support Personnel, IEA-NEA (hereinafter referred to as the “Association”).
ARTICLE 1: RECOGNITION AND DEFINITIONS
1.1 Recognition The Employer recognizes the “Association” as the exclusive bargaining representative for all Paraprofessionals employed by the Employer, who are scheduled to work at least three (3) hours per day, except all confidential, supervisory, short-term, temporary and managerial Employees defined by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
1.2 Definitions When used in the Agreement, the following definitions of terms shall apply:
1.2.1 “School District” or “District” means the Bloomington Public Schools, District 87, Bloomington, Illinois. The term “District” and the term “Employer” are synonymous as used herein.
1.2.2 “Superintendent of Schools” or “Superintendent” means the chief administrative officer of the Bloomington Public Schools, District 87, Bloomington, Illinois.
1.2.3 “Work location” means school or building.
1.2.4 “Temporary” means hired to perform a specific assignment or on an as needed or request basis.
1.2.5 Whenever the singular is used, it shall include the plural. Whenever a masculine term is used, it shall include the feminine.
1.2.6 Building principal or designated supervisor means an administrator. A teacher shall not be the “designated supervisor”.
ARTICLE 2: EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1 Employer Rights Except as specifically restricted by the express language of this Agreement, the Employer retains the right to manage the School District and direct the working forces in the manner it determines to be in the best interests of the School District. Such right includes, but is not limited to, the right to hire, assign, schedule, promote, demote, transfer, layoff, discipline and discharge Employees; to relieve Employees from duties because of lack of work or other legitimate reasons; to determine the work to be performed by Employees, the size of the work force, and the manner in which work is to be performed; and to establish and enforce reasonable rules and regulations applicable to Employees which are not in conflict with any provision of this Agreement.
2.2 Surveillance
2.2.1 The purpose of surveillance equipment is to secure the buildings. The
purpose of surveillance equipment is not to evaluate the performance of
employees or to monitor their behavior or conduct.
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2.2.2 Surveillance shall only occur in common areas including, among others, hallways, parking lots, grounds, cafeterias, and gymnasiums. Surveillanceequipment will not be utilized to observe employee performance or otherwisebe accessed as documentation in the employee evaluation process.
2.2.3 Data from the surveillance equipment may be reviewed by the District’s personnel in connection with investigations of suspected criminal conduct or security violations or incidents. Access to data involving District personnel will be limited to appropriate administrative personnel and police liaison officers. Such review will take place in the office of one of the parties
listed above. If the review of data inadvertently reveals alleged incidents of employee misconduct, the following process will be followed.
(a) The Employee and the Association will be notified if the District
intends to investigate the alleged employee misconduct incident. Such
notification shall be in writing.
(b) The Association representative or the Employee’s representative may review the data depicting the alleged employee misconduct.
(c) The Employee has the right to be represented in all investigatory meetings regarding alleged misconduct unless the employee declines representation. For further information see Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
(d) Any discipline that may be imposed against the employee as a result of
the misconduct investigation shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions in this Agreement.
2.2.4 Data from surveillance equipment may be stored for up to thirty (30) calendar days unless there is cause to believe that such data would document a criminal or security incident.
2.2.5 At the time surveillance equipment is activated in each school building, all employees at that school shall be informed in writing, of the use of the surveillance equipment. All new employees will be notified in writing, of the use of the surveillance equipment as part of new employee orientation.
ARTICLE 3: ASSOCIATION RIGHTS
3.1 Association Dues The Employer, on written authorization by an Employee, agrees to deduct regular dues and initiation fees, if any, from an Employee's earnings each payday. Such check-off authorization card shall specify the amount to be deducted from each paycheck and the effective date of such authorization. The authorization cards, in a form approved in advance by the Employer shall be furnished by the Association.
3.1.1 The Association shall notify the Employer, in writing, of the name and address of the Association official to whom such deductions shall be transmitted.
3.1.2 The Association and the Employer agree that any authorization for dues deduction shall be voluntary on the part of the Employee and such
authorization may be revoked upon written notice to the Employer within fifteen (15) days after the effective date of this Agreement. The Employer
shall notify the Association in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of such dues revocation from the Employee. After the fifteen (15) day period, the Employee may not revoke such dues authorization during the term of this Agreement.
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3.1.3 The Association shall indemnify and save the Employer harmless against any and all claims, demands, or other forms of liability which may arise out
of or come into being by reason of any action taken or not taken by the Employer for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Section.
3.2 Discrimination Against Employees The Association and the Employer agree that they will not practice discrimination or discriminate against any Employee because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender,sexual orientation, age, ancestry, marital status, military status or unfavorable discharge, citizenship status, physical or mental disability if otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.
3.3 Rights to Organize Employees shall have the right to organize, join, and assist the Association, and to participate in professional negotiations with the Employer as provided in this Agreement through representatives of their own choosing; provided, however, nothing herein shall be construed as sanctioning any action which is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. Neither the Employer nor the Association will discriminate on the basis of Association membership or non-membership, lawful Association activity or refusing to engage in such activity, participation in negotiations, or the adjustment of grievances.
3.3.1 The Association and the Employer agree that Association membership is entirely a matter of the Employee's free choice and determination.
3.3.2 Employees shall not solicit membership in the Association or carry on any Association activity during normal working hours as established by this Agreement.
3.4 Use of Employer's Facilities The Employer agrees that the Association may use the Employer's facilities for lawful Association activities involving only Employees covered by this Agreement, provided such use does not interfere with the regular school operation. The use of such facilities shall be subject to all rules, conditions, and policies governing the use of such facilities. When applicable the Association shall pay the regular charge for the use of such facilities.
3.4.1 Upon approval of an Application and Permit for Use of School Properties, the Association shall have the right to schedule Association meetings and activities on school property in accordance with the conditions specified in 3.4 of this Agreement.
3.4.2 The Association shall be permitted to post notices of meetings and other pertinent information regarding lawful Association activities on a bulletin board at each work location.
3.4.3 The Association shall be permitted to use the School District delivery service for communications to Employees within a work location and system-wide; provided, however, political campaign materials so distributed shall be enclosed in separate envelopes. A copy of materials sent by such delivery service shall be given to the Superintendent or their designee at the same time such materials are deposited with delivery service.
3.5 Fair Share Each bargaining unit member, as a condition of their employment, on or before thirty (30) days from the date of commencement of duties or the effective date of this Agreement, whichever is later, shall either join the Association or pay a fair share fee to the Association equivalent to the amount ofdues uniformly required of members of the Association, including local, state and national dues. Deductions will begin on the 13th of the designated month (October, November, December, and February) following the submission of the list provided by the Association.
Each year the Association will provide to the Employer a list of such Employees on October 1, February 1, April 1, and July 1.
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3.5.1 In the event that the bargaining unit member does not pay their fair share directly to the Association by a certain date as established by the Association, the Board shall deduct the fair share fee from the wages of the
non-member. The Association will, four (4) times a year, submit to the Employer a listing of such Employees on the dates in 3.5 above. Deductions
will begin on the 13th of the month following the submission of the list provided by the Association.
3.5.2 Such fee shall be paid to the Association by the Board no later than
ten (10) days following the end of the month in which the deduction was made.
3.5.3 In the event of any legal action against the Employer brought in a court or administrative agency because of its compliance with the Article, the Association agrees to defend such action, at its own expense and through its own counsel, provided:
(a)The Employer gives immediate notice of such action in writing to the Association and permits the Association intervention as a party if it so desires; and
(b)The Employer gives full and complete cooperation to the Association and its counsel in securing and giving evidence, obtaining witnesses and making relevant information available at both trial and all appellate levels.
3.5.4 The Association agrees that in any action so defended, it will indemnify and hold harmless the Employer from any liability for damages and costs imposed by a final judgment of a court of administrative agency as a direct consequence of the Employer’s non-negligence compliance with this Article.
3.5.5 The obligation to pay a fair share fee will not apply to any Employee
who, on the basis of a bona-fide religious tenet or teaching of a church or religious body of which such Employee is a member or a belief sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views, objects to the payment of a fair share fee to the Association. Upon proper substantiation and collection of the entire fee, the Association will make payment on behalf of the Employee to a mutually agreeable non-religious charitable organization as per Association policy and the Rules and Regulations of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.
3.6 Posting of Vacancies When a vacancy or anticipated vacancy in a position, covered by the Agreement for the following school term occurs, the Employer shall “Post” the vacancy in all school buildings. The information shall also be mailed electronically to a representative chosen by the Association. No vacancy shall be filled permanently until such vacancy has been “Posted” for ten (10) normal scheduled workdays with the exception of those vacancies which occur between the end of the current school term and the beginning of the next school term. Prior to the first day of school, when school is not in session, such notices shall be
mailed electronically to a representative chosen by the Association. Notice shall
also be mailed electronically and via U.S. Postal Service to each Employee, employed for the following school term, who has filed a written request with the Human Resource Office to be advised of vacancies of the particular type available.
3.6.1 All notices of posting of vacancies shall be clearly marked as such,
using the title “Posting”.
3.7 No Strikes The Association agrees there shall be no strike, withholding of services, slow-down, mass resignations, mass absenteeism, picketing, or other refusal to render full and complete service to the Employer during the term of this Agreement. The Association agrees that it will not authorize or encourage any interruption of service, including sympathy strikes or similar actions.
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3.7.1 In the event of an interruption of service, the officers of the Association will immediately order its members to return to work.
3.7.2 Any Employee participating in any activity prohibited by this Section
will be discharged by the Employer. Should the discharge be challenged through the grievance procedure, the only issue for the arbitrator shall be whether the Employee participated in the action. The arbitrator shall not issue a lesser penalty.
3.8 No Lockouts The Employer agrees that during the term of this Agreement it willnot lock out any Employee covered by this Agreement in connection with any labor dispute with the Association.
ARTICLE 4: EMPLOYEE PROTECTION
4.1 Rules and Regulations The Employer agrees that its rules and regulations shall be reasonable, and that enforcement issues may be processed under the grievance procedure.
4.2 Discipline The Employer understands that it may be desirable for an Employee to be represented by the Association at some meetings scheduled by the Employer.
4.2.1 If the Employer is investigating a matter involving an Employee which may reasonably lead to discipline, representatives of the Employer may discuss the matter with such Employee without a representative of the Association being present. However, it is understood and agreed that a meeting to discuss a pending or potential disciplinary matter will be held prior to issuing any written disciplinary action; and prior to scheduling such meeting, the Employee will be given written notice as to the nature of the meeting and informed of their right to be represented by an Association representative at such meeting.
4.2.2 A copy of any written disciplinary action shall not be placed in the Employee's personnel file without first giving the Employee a copy of the written disciplinary action and the opportunity to place a written response to such disciplinary action in their personnel file.
4.2.3 The parties recognize that the Employer may take immediate action in response to an arrest of an Employee when the arrest involves a matter that could impact the operation of the District. Such actions could include temporary reassignments, leaves of absence with or without pay at the discretion of the Employer, or other similar measures. Such actions are not considered discipline and are not subject to “just cause”. However, any discipline imposed upon an Employee as a result of an arrest, or events leading up to an arrest, are subject to “just cause”.
4.2.4 Disciplinary action will be imposed upon a non-probationary Employee only for just cause. Any disciplinary action imposed upon a non-probationary Employee may be challenged through the regular grievance procedure set forth in Article 4 of this Agreement.
4.3 Review of Personnel File At the mutual convenience of the Employee and theSuperintendent or their designee, such Employee shall have access to their personnel file. At the Employee's request a representative of the Association may
accompany him in such review. There shall be one personnelfile for each Employee which shall contain all records and information except confidential material. The term “confidential material” refers to letters or references for such Employee and any material protected from disclosure pursuant to 820 ILCS 40/1-40/13.
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4.4 Complaints Regarding an Employee Any complaint deemed by the building principal or designated supervisor to justify investigation and/or subsequent action of any nature shall be brought to the attention of the Employee involved. The building principal or designated supervisor will schedule a conference to assist such Employee in an attempt to resolve the issue involved in such complaint deemed by such principal or supervisor to justify investigation and/or subsequent action of any nature.
4.4.1 When deemed appropriate by the building principal or designated supervisor, or requested in writing by the Employee, an attempt will be made to schedule a conference between the complaining party and the Employee involved. The Employee may at their option have representation as he desires at any conference held at which the Employee, principal or supervisor, and complaining party are present.
4.4.2 No disciplinary action shall be initiated by the Employer against such Employee based on such complaint until a conference between the complaining party and the Employee has occurred.