Share this page on Social Media

Article 13 – Participatory Decision Making

Article 13 – Participatory Decision Making

13.01 – Concept: Providing instructional staff with opportunities to participate in the decision-making process has a positive impact on employee retention, especially whenever there is a potential impact to the work being done in the classroom, school, or department. The interest-based process and good faith efforts to maintain a collaborative relationship through bargaining related committees reduces the likelihood of labor disputes allowing all staff the ability to focus on student achievement.

  1. Bargaining Related Committees: Bargaining related committees are made up of both District and TALC appointed members and each committee is assigned specific duties. Committees are assigned to review contract language to identify potential issues, in order to present recommendations to the bargaining teams or the TALC Labor/Management Committee. Bargaining related committee meetings are regularly scheduled and records of meetings should be kept.
  2. Leave: Employees participating as members of Bargaining Related Committees or School Advisory Councils may, at the discretion of the supervisor, be eligible for Temporary Duty as described in Article 12.09 to attend meetings when held away from the employee’s work site.

13.02 - TALC Labor / Management Committee: The TALC Labor/Management Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The TALC Labor/Management Committee shall be made up of four (4) members, two (2) from management and (2) from labor. Subject Matter Experts may be invited to participate in TALC Labor/Management Committee meetings. The TALC Labor/Management Committee is responsible for day to day contract administration, including oversight of bargaining related committees and subcommittees, ensuring the successful implementation of negotiated contract language, and executing memorandums of understanding (MOUs).

  1. District and Site-Based Committees: The creation or elimination of bargaining related committees may be done with the approval of the TALC Labor/Management Committee or the bargaining teams. The TALC Labor/Management Committee shall assist in scheduling bargaining related committee mee tings and shall make every reasonable effort to avoid scheduling meetings during student contact time, while recognizing the need in some instances to meet during the regularly scheduled work day. The TALC Labor/Management Committee is responsible for the appointment of members to all District-Based Committees, with each side having the final say in the appointment of members to represent their interests. The TALC Labor/Management Committee shall review the parameters for site-based participatorydecision making.

13.03 – District-based Committees:

  1. Insurance Task Force: The Insurance Task Force is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The Insurance Task Force shall be made up of sixteen (16) members, eight (8) from management, including the chairperson, and eight (8) from labor, with equal representation for each association representing an affected bargaining unit. The Insurance Task Force shall review existing insurance programs and workers’ compensation issues. The Insurance Task Force will explore alternatives, improvements, changes, and specifications to the existing insurance programs. In order to be implemented, any committee recommendations that alter articles of this agreement or any of the medical plan benefit description documents shall be incorporated by reference in the agreement after they have been ratified by both the Board and the Association.
    1. Timelines: The parties agree to use the Interest Based process when requested by a super majority of TALC Bargaining Unit representatives, SPALC Bargaining Unit representatives, or District representatives. When using the Interest Based process, the parties will develop a decision-making timeline by mutual agreement of the parties which allows ample opportunity to discuss the issues of concern. In the event that a deadline for decision making lapses, the parties will revert to using majority vote to honor the deadlines in the agreed upon decision-making timeline.
  2. District Safety / Security Committee: The District Safety/Security Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The District Safety/Security Committee shall be made up of sixteen (16) members, eight (8) from management, including the chairperson, and eight (8) from labor, with equal representation for each association representing an affected bargaining unit. The District Safety/Security Committee shall review district safety plans and unresolved site safety/security issues. Any committee recommendations shall be sent to the Superintendent’s designee and the TALC Labor/Management Committee by the chairperson.
  3. Instructional Calendar Committee: The Instructional Calendar Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The Instructional Calendar Committee shall be made up of twenty-four (24) members, twelve (12) from management, including the chairperson, and twelve (12) from labor, with equal representation for each association representing an affected bargaining unit. The Instructional Calendar Committee shall review the instructional calendar for the upcoming school year. If necessary, work year calendars will be reviewed by the SPALC Labor/Management Committee or the TALC Labor/Management Committee. Any committee recommendations that alter the articles of this agreement shall be incorporated by reference in the agreement after they have been ratified by both the Board and the Association.
  4. Instructional Supplement Committee: The Instructional Supplement Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The Instructional Supplement Committee shall be made up of twelve (12) members, six (6) from management, including the chairperson, and six (6) from labor. The Instructional Supplement Committee shall review existing instructional supplements to address concerns regarding instructional supplements. Any committee recommendations shall be sent to the bargaining teams or the TALC Labor/Management Committee.
  5. Turnaround School Committee: The Turnaround School Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The Turnaround School Committee shall evaluate and develop options to assist in improving working conditions at schools receiving the Turnaround School supplement.
  6. District Student Discipline Committee: The District Student Discipline Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The District Student Committee shall be made up of sixteen (16) members, eight (8) from management, including the chairperson, and eight (8) from labor, with equal representation for each association representing an affected bargaining unit. The District Student Discipline Committee shall review the Student Code of Conduct. Any committee recommendations shall be sent to the Superintendent’s designee and the TALC Labor/Management Committee by the chairperson.

13.04 – Site-based Committees: Instructional staff that serve on school-based committees represent the interests of individual worksites, therefore committee members will be elected by the instructional staff assigned to that worksite. Committee members will be elected by secret ballot election, to be counted by the Association’s lead representative for the site and a site-based administrator. The Association’s lead representative or their designee shall be included on all school2 based committees.

  1. Instructional Leadership Committee: The Instructional Leadership Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The Instructional Leadership Committee shall be made up of no less than four (4) members, two (2) school-based administrators and two (2) members of the instructional staff. The Instructional Leadership Committee shall discuss potential labor issues without violating individual employee’s right to confidentiality in employment matters. School-administrators or school-based union representatives may refer issues from these meetings to the TALC Labor/Management Committee for consideration.
  2. School Calendar Committee: The School Calendar Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The School Calendar Committee shall be made up of no less than four (4) members, two (2) school-based administrators and two (2) members of the instructional staff. Prior to the beginning of each semester, the School Calendar Committee will develop a school calendar that includes anticipated dates and times for faculty meetings and school-related events. School calendars should indicate whether instructional staff attendance is mandatory or voluntary. The School Calendar Committee should also be involved in planning the schedule for the pre-school week, which is subject to the approval of administration.
  3. School or Site-Based Safety / Security Committee: The School Safety/Security Committee is a standing committee that meets on a regularly scheduled basis. The School Safety/Security Committee shall be made up of no less than four (4) members, two (2) school-based administrators and two (2) members of the instructional staff. Committee members may make a written request for an emergency meeting of the School Safety/Security Committee. Written requests for an emergency meeting should specify the reason for the request and should include the Safety & Security Department. Requests must be responded to within 5 days.

13.05 – Waiver of Contract Language:

  1. Request: The Instructional Leadership Committee at any site may request a waiver of contract language in Article 5 (General Employment Practices), Article 6 (Working Conditions), and Article 7 (Work Schedule). All other articles shall not be altered, modified, or deviated from without the express written consent of TALC and the District. Any alternation, modification, or deviation shall be memorialized in a Memorandum of Understanding. Requests for a waiver of contract language shall be made to the TALC Labor/Management Committee.
  2. Process: Requests for a waiver of contract language require that administration at the site allow all instructional staff the opportunity to review the request, discuss the request, and vote by secret ballot. Administration and an Association representative shall count the ballots together and at least 80% of the instructional staff assigned to the site must vote in favor of submitting the request for review by the TALC Labor/Management Committee. Approval of the request may be subject to Board approval.