This morning the principals will be contacting all first year teachers to let them know they will be RIFed, and also to give them a brochure that includes information about the RIF and the timeline for applying and interviewing, etc. In addition to first year teachers, all non-tenured part time teachers will also be released.
This brochure includes FAQ’s, a Timeline and other information important for those who are part of the RIF. It will also be helfpul when Displaced Teachers are announced next week.
A few important notes:
- The following sections of the contract will be helpful for you to review: Section 6.6.1.5, Section 7.7, Section 6.6.1.4, Section 6.6.2.2
- Administration and UFEA meet with RIF teachers:
January 26 – 4:00 pm @ KJHS and January 28 – 4:00 pm @ KJHS
Timeline (from the Brochure)
- January 22: RIF teachers identified
- January 29: Displaced teachers identified
- February 1-4: Seniority lists sent to buildings, Internal building transfers conducted
- February 5: Vacancies posted for displaced teachers
- February 8-26: Placement of displaced teachers
- March 10: Board approval of RIF resolution and in-building transfers and placement of displaced teachers
- March 11: Letters mailed to RIF teachers by certified mail, District vacancies posted
- March 11-19: Voluntary transfers for in-district candidates only (RIF teachers are not eligible at this time)
- March 29-April 8: Teachers requesting transfers interviewed and placed
- April 9-16: All vacancies posted
- April 19: Interviews, selections and assignments
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Q. How will I find out about insurance and unemployment benefits?
UFEA will have an informational meeting on these topics later in the spring. - Q. Can a displaced teacher move to a vacancy within their current building during the internal transfer process?
Yes, that would occur during the internal transfer (within building) process and the decision is up to the building principal. - Q. Will displaced teachers have to interview for jobs?
No, displaced teachers will only need to select a job from the list provided. - Q. Who will have to interview for jobs?
Teachers requesting internal transfers and RIF’ed teachers applying for vacancies will be interviewed.
Do the RIFed non-tenured teachers include teacher’s assistants? If so, this will present problems in those classrooms where “challenging”,mainstreamed students have to be kept on task by the only teacher in the room…at the expense of the rest of the class. My $0.02.
The Teaching Assistant in Unit 5 are represented by UFSPA (Unit Five Support Professionals Association), not UFEA.
The RIF referred to here only applies to certified employees of Unit 5 represented by UFEA.
It is highly possible there may be a Reduction in Force that impacts the Teaching Assistants or other groups of employees as well.
The State’s budget problems and their impact on school funding are certainly creating challenges that impact school employees and students alike.
It’s important that we elect leaders at the State level that value public education and will work to fix the budget problems and inequities in school funding.