THE 25% PLAN

Superintendents must review the performance and evaluations of all “teachers” who have been employed by the board of education for at least three consecutive years and must identify and recommend to the board twenty-five percent (25%) of those “teachers” to be offered four-year contracts to be effective beginning with the 2014–2015 school year.

The local board of education shall review the superintendent’s recommendation and may approve that recommendation or may select other “teachers” as part of the 25% to offer four-year contracts, but the local board shall not offer any “teacher” a four- year contract unless that “teacher” has shown effectiveness as demonstrated by proficiency on the approved evaluation instrument.

No employee who is offered the four-year contract is required to accept it. The state has offered a $500 yearly raise for each of the four years to all who accept, contingent on future budget availability. If a tenured employee accepts the four- year contract, they agree to voluntarily relinquish their tenure status now.

The ABSS list of educators includes all certified/licensed instructional staff (teachers, counselors, social workers, speech pathologists, media specialists, audiologists, lead teachers, program specialists, and academic coaches). The timeframe for consideration of three consecutive years of employment with ABSS includes any hire date prior to September 1, Summative Evaluation ratings from the and school years will be used to determine effectiveness.

ABSS has 1165 educators that can be considered for a four-year contract based on their employment and evaluation status. Of that number, 88% of them are classroom teachers and12% of them are other certified staff. 25% of 1165 gives ABSS 291 four-year contracts to offer.

Members of the Human Resources team met with the faculty of every school site in the system as well as district meetings of various certified groups to discuss this information and answer questions. ABSS employees were asked for feedback via an anonymous online survey to give them an opportunity to offer input on any selection criteria to be considered above and beyond criteria set by the state. The actions of surrounding districts have also been considered along with considerable guiding input from Tharrington Smith.

Human Resources will distribute Four-Year Educator Contract Interest Forms to eligible educators. Educators will complete and submit forms by a designated deadline. Human Resources will distribute the “model” four- year contract recommended by Tharrington Smith to all eligible educators for their review. Of those educators who complete the Four-Year Educator Contract Interest Form, the Superintendent will review their years of service and summative evaluation data to identify 25% to recommend for four-year contract offers.

Each educator who completes a Four-Year Teacher Contract Interest Form will have their Summative Evaluation Ratings from and converted to a numeric rating to help determine the 25%. Educators must have proficient or higher summary ratings on evaluations to be considered for recommendation.

 The Superintendent compiles a list of 25% of eligible educators to recommend to the Board of Education in May of 2014 for four-year contract offers.  The Board of Education considers recommendations and makes final determinations about the 25% of eligible educators who will receive four-year contract offers.  Human Resources will extend four-year contract offers to the selected educators. Contracts must be accepted or declined by a designated deadline.