Facts You MUST Know!

• The District will NOT give credit for Staff Developement time if the Facilitator does not show up. Unless you also place no value on your time, you should wait no more than 20 minutes before leaving.



• If the Facilitator shows up late, you are only required to stay for two hours past the scheduled start time.



• Staff Development, by definition, is a learning experience for the teacher. No work product should be required except as described on page 7 of the M-Tract Catalog.



• Staff Development "Evaluation forms" which were intended for use by M-Tract are being used as an argument against teacher grievances. Positive responses on these forms are being interpreted as a willingness to allow violations of the contract.



• For whatever it means to you.... The District is spending approximately $20,000 in legal fees in order to avoid paying Berner teachers approximately $1600. It's a world gone crazy, folks!

Know Your Contract by Tomia Smith

The following is taken from Article IX: Professional Role, pages 28-30. The headings have been included for each section with sections D and E being highlighted at this time. You may refer to your contract for further explanation regarding the other sections.

• A. Use of Mailboxes
• B. Determination of Grades
• C. Ten Week Marking Periods

D. Personnel Files
Teachers shall have full access to their personnel files.


Teachers shall be notified in writing when additions or deletions are made to their personnel
files. The teacher shall be given an opportunity to examine such materials and to append any
materials or statement he/she may wish to the materials in his/her file.


No disciplinary letter shall be made part of a teacher's file prior to the teacher being
notified and afforded an opportunity, either on his/her own or if requested through the 
Federation with the Federation being present, to have a conference to review said material. If, 
in the opinion of the Administration, after said conference, it is still to be made part of the 
file, the provisions of the section shall be applicable.


Materials of a derogatory nature, if untrue, shall be removed from a teacher's personnel
file.


E. Educational Advisory Committee
The Educational Advisory Committee (EAC) consisting of five teachers appointed by the Federation
and five administrators and/or supervisors appointed by the Board shall continue to function in 
the area of educational policies and practices.


The EAC shall meet monthly to discuss and study subjects mutually agreed upon relating to the
district in addition to those subjects referred to it by the provisions of this agreement.


The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedures and shall provide for a rotating 
chairperson who will be responsible for the arrangements and conduct of meetings.


The EAC may establish committees, responsible to it and having equal numbers of teachers
appointed by the Federation and administrators and/or supervisors appointed by the Board, to 
study and report to the EAC upon mutually agreed upon subjects.


The EAC shall be without authority to enter into negotiations, to change any provisions of this
contract and, except as specifically provided in this contract, to make a final determination 
with respect to any matter affecting wages, hours, or terms and conditions of employment. It 
shall be responsible to the parties to this contract and shall issue written reports to the 
Superintendent and to the Federation, no later than February 1st covering all areas of its
concern. Any opinions or conclusions of the Committee shall not be binding on the parties, but 
they are to be guided by its recommendations.

• F. Standardized Examinations
• G. Curriculum Committee
• H. Professional Period