Gahanna-Jefferson Public School

District GJEA Tentative Agreement

October 17, 2020
Page 1

1. Base increase - Article A.1

a. Regular Teachers' Salary Schedule

Effective August 1, 2020, the BA minimum salary shall be $43,150.52

[NOTE: This is a 2.25% wage increase for the 2020-21 contract year. The increase will be applied
retroactively to the beginning of the contract year.]

2. Step Increase:

[NOTE: No CBA language will change. In addition to the wage increase above, employees have
already received a "step" increase for this contract year (2020-21), if eligible, based on the
negotiated salary schedule.]

3. Bene fits: .
[NOTE: No CBA language will change. Healthcare and fringe benefits will remain current
contract language for the 2020-21 contract year (i.e., the coverage and contributions for
employees will
remain status quo).]

4. COVID Specific Language - **NEW** COVID Appendix

COVID APPENDIX
(Attached by reference to the CBA, subject to the grievancep roc e du r e. )
This Appendix shall sunset on June 30, 2021.

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, there are unique challenges related to the instruction of students. Dur ing ·
the pandemic, the parties agree to the following:

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page 2

A. COVID-19 Concern Committee

1. A COVID-19 Concern Committee will be formed for the purpose of communicating

COVID-19 related concerns and recommended solutions to the Administration. The
committee will include one member from each building who served on the Task Force,
selected by GJEA, and three Administrators. The Administrators may vary depending
on the issues being discussed. Members will collect concerns from teachers in their
building, which will be included on an agenda presented in advance of the meeting.
The committee will meet weekly unless a safety-related issue arises, at which point,
the Superintendent shall be notified immediately. If the Association doesn't believe a
meeting is needed during any week, the meeting will be canceled.

2. If the Committee meets outside of the Employee work day, Committee members shall
be compensated at the current hourly rate.

3. The Committee shall not have the authority to negotiate wages, hours or terms
and conditions of employment.

B. Enhanced Distance Learning Model:

When the District operates in the 100% Distance Learning Model for grades PreK-12, the normal
schedule (S days of instruction per week) applies.

On Monday, October 26 th, students in Pre-K- 5 and 9-12 may begin in the Hybrid Model.

Until Monday, November 2nd, students in grades 6-8 may remain in the 100% Distance Learning
Model; however, if the District is able to create the school within the school schedule for Middle
School students prior to this date, students may be returned to the buildings.

G. Hybrid with Distance Learners Model:

1. When the District operates the Hybrid Model with Distance Learners, Grades 6-8 will
operate as a school-within-a-school model like Pre-K - 5, and the District will otherwise
operate on a 1-2- 2 basis. Under this 1-2-2 Model:

a.Students in grades Pre-K - 12, Distance Learners, Quarantine Students, and

Hybrid Students will participate in Enhanced Distance Learning on Monday
following the regular class period schedule (not the condensed schedule).

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page3

2. Each Distance Learning Student in grades 9-12 shall be assigned to either the Gold or Blue
Hybrid group of Stud ents.

a. Teachers will meet, in person, with Hybrid Gold Students on Tuesday and Thursday.

b. Teachers will meet, in person, with Hybrid Blue Students on Wednesday and Friday.

c. When teachers are meeting in-:p erson with Hybrid Students, the teacher will
provide "Real-Time Instruction" for Distance Learners and Quarantine students
assigned to that same group of Hybrid students.

i. "Real-Time Instruction" means that the teacher will broadcast from the
classroom using a non-recorded broadcast technology. This non-recorded
broadcast shall be achieved by the individual Employee creating a private
YouTube Live channel or similar platform as recommended by the COVID
Concern Committee for each group of students to view while in-person
instruction is occurring. While Distance Learners and Quarantine Students,
or other students who are absent due to health reasons who are otherwise
not present in-person may view the instruction, the students who are not
present in the classroom will not broadcast video or sound into the
classroom. The students who are not present may engage in the Real-
Time Instruction by communicating through chat, Q&A or other features
that the
platform may offer, as determined by the teacher.
ii. Students shall not be the focal point of the camera while the real-time
instruction is being broadcast. Additionally, for students in grades 9 - 12,
the teacher may set-up a Google Meet for students to collaborate and work
with their classmates. All students shall sign-into the Google Meet on their
individual District-issued device. The teacher will monitor the Google Meet
by also signing into it.
iii. Teachers shall be provided with the ability to turn off the camera in the
event of any disruption to the learning environment that may jeopardize
privacy and/or safety.
iv. Subject to availability, teachers shall be provided with a lapel or other
appropriate microphone to speak into so that students viewing the real
time instruction are able to clearly hear.
v. Any teacher who is experiencing concerns related to the operation of
technology being utilized may request and shall be granted opportunities
for professional development and/or support, without negative
consequences.
vi. For the following courses, real-time instruction may not be a possibility. In
order to determine the student's ability to participate, the teacher of the
course, the department chair, and the high school Academic Officer shall

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page4

confer. The decision made regarding the student's ability to participate

shall be binding.
1. Black and White Film Photography
2. Ceramics
3. Computer Art
4. Fab Lab
5. Print Making
6. Science Academy Courses

Students will be afforded the option to participate in in-person instruction

provided that safety measures permit the additional occupancy.

d. The District shall offer addendum contracts to those Employees who are willing to
staff a Virtual Support Center for DLS, QS, and/or Hybrid students on their asynchronous
learning days. The individual(s) fulfilling this addendum contract shall be compensated
at his/her individual hourly rate.

i. The Virtual Support Center shall be available for two-hours after

school, Monday- Friday.

ii. At a minimum, at least one Employee from each of the academic core content
areas shall be available to staff the Virtual Support Center. Additionally, the
District may choose to staff the Virtual Support Center with non-academic core
content area Employees.

a. The Academic Core Content Areas are:

i. English
ii. Math
iii. Science
iv. Social Studies

b. The Non-academic Core Content Areas are:

i. Performing and Visual Arts
ii. Foreign Language
iii. Business
iv. Health/ Physical Education
v. any other District-determined staffing need

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School
District GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Pages

For Grades 9-12, staffing of the Virtual Support Center will be coordinated with
the Pass Room to avoid duplication.

e. In order to maintain student services and current course offerings, the parties
agree to virtual instruction to the following groups:
i. Intervention Specialists (distance learners full-time and hybrid if
needed to satisfy required minutes) as determined and scheduled
by the IS/related service providers. For the 2020- 2021 school
year, students who have an identified need (IEP, 504, ELL, O/T,
P/T, SLP, etc.), shall be assigned to the appropriate staff to
receive support as required via individual telehealth sessions,
small group lessons and/or intervention with only other DLS / QS
in attendance, if appropriate. Telehealth sessions shall be
provided via a HIPAA compliant videoconferencing platform.
Under no circumstance will Employees be directed to provide
services to in-person students at the same time services are being
provided to DLS. When related service providers and/or
intervention specialists deem it necessary, DSL, QS, and/or In-
Person students may be grouped together and pulled into a space
separate from the mainstream classroom. In these limited
situations, students and parents will execute the Distance
Learning Student/ Parent Commitment
ii. Grades K-5 Related Arts [art, music, PE, library] teachers (distance
learners only)

3. For any Employee working in an online setting, including but not limited to Real-Time
Instruction with Distance Learning Students and/or Quarantine Students, the District shall agree
to the following:

a. If any disciplinary situation arises in connection with either the preparation for and/or
delivery of online instruction and/ or the interaction among students and/ or employee(s)
and student(s), including any alleged violation of FERPA or student privacy situations, the
Administration will not discipline employees if the employee acted in good faith with the
best interest of students in mind and in a manner consistent with the employee's job
description. Additionally, should a licensed employee, acting in good faith as described
above, find him/herself needing to defend his/her action in front of a licensing agency in the
state of Ohio, including but not limited to the Ohio Department of Education, then upon
Employee request, the District shall provide a letter of support for the employee. The
employee as well as the Association Representative shall review the letter prior to it being
provided to the department/ agency.

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GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page6

4. Any Employee reassigned during the 2020 - 2021 school year shall be returned to the
original position that the individual held at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year provided
that the position still exists and dependent upon staffing needs.

D. Health and Safety Provisions for the 2020-21 contract year:

1. Administration will create a Google doc (or some other written method) that individuals
would be able to use to report potential deficiencies in PPE supply and areas that are not
being cleaned/sanitized. If fewer than a ten-day supply of PPE is available, then the teacher
will utilize the established mechanism above to report the deficiency of supply as soon as
possible, but with at least five (5) workdays notice that a supply is running low and requires
replenishment. GJEA leadership and the reporting staff member will be informed of the
replenishment of the supply. In the event that PPE and/or disinfecting supplies are not
available, then that particular space will not be open for occupancy. For the purpose of this
section, PPE includes but is not limited to: face shields, gowns, gloves, cleaning supplies
and solutions, disinfecting supplies and solutions, hand sanitizer, paper towels, etc.

2. Bargaining unit members shall not be required to assist with the sanitizing of playground
equipment, auditoriums, gymnasium areas, and/or other common areas within the school
buildings. Provided that enough time is available in order for the duty to be completed,
bargaining unit members may be assigned a duty to assist with spraying sanitizer on lunch
tables and study hall desks and chairs. Bargaining unit members may be required to assist in
the sanitizing of their classrooms (including common space that is used as a learning space,
e.g., auditorium). Bargaining unit members will not be required to maintain the basic
cleanliness of their classrooms/workspaces beyond the scope of the normal job description.
(For example, a science teacher who normally cleans up after a Lab will continue to do
so.) For the 2020 - 2021 school year only, members may be required to assist with the
sanitizing of classroom spaces between groups of students. Bargaining unit members shall
be provided with sanitizer, wipes, and gloves to sanitize the space as needed. No bargaining
unit member shall be required to engage in in-depth cleaning.

3. For teachers assigned to work at the Preschool, a clinic aide shall be provided each day.

4. Upon request, teachers assigned to work with students who are unable to maintain the
appropriate social distancing requirements shall have District-provided additional PPE
such as face shields, gloves, gowns, etc.

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page7

0. COVID Leave
a. Employees may be eligible for leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response
Act (FFCRA).
b. The COVID Leave Pool shall be created by Employees of the Bargaining Unit and
administered by the Association. An Employee shall be permitted to donate as many
days as they want, and there shall not be a requirement to donate in order to be able
to utilize days from the COVID LEAVE Pool. If the balance of the Pool drops below
twenty
(20) days, Employees of the Bargaining Unit shall have the opportunity to donate again.
c. In any circumstance where an Employee is utilizing COVID LEAVE from the
Employee COVID Leave Pool, the Employee shall provide either a letter or a
summary of their visit from the Employee's doctor, nurse practitioner, clinic, doctor's
office or hospital, stating that the Employee is recommended to quarantine, to be
under an isolation order, is suffering from symptoms that may be related to COVID-19
and may be awaiting a diagnosis or test result (assuming testing is available), or
needs to be absent due to the bargaining unit member being diagnosed with COVID-
19. The District shall have the right to request additional medical letters as needed
should an Employee's utilization of COVID LEAVE need to be extended beyond the
first ten (10 days). The District may deduct sick leave from the Employee's accruals
prior to receiving this letter; however, upon receipt of the letter or the summary of their
visit from the bargaining unit member's nurse practitioner, clinic, doctor's office or
hospital, the District shall reinstate to the bargaining unit member's accrued sick leave
that had been deducted prior to the Employee submitting the letter.
d. In instances where the Employee is either asymptomatic, is possibly exposed and
awaiting a diagnosis or test result (where testing is available), is the subject of a
quarantine or isolation order, the Employee may be able to telework for the duration of
the Employee's asymptomatic period and/or the duration of the quarantine or isolation
order, which may require providing Real-Time-Instruction from home, with approval of
the Human Resources Director. Evidence that the Employee sought a diagnosis or
test must be presented to the Human Resources Director within three days absent an
extenuating circumstance.
e. Nothing in this agreement shall prevent an Employee from exercising all sick leave rights
under the law, inclusive of the rights provided to the Employee under the FMLA and
FFCRA, and all leave rights provided to the Employee under the Collective Bargaining
Agreement between the parties.
COVID LEAVE may only be utilized when the Employee is personally
quarantined, under an isolation order, suffering from symptoms that

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District GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page8

may be related to COVID-19 and awaiting a diagnosis or test result

(should testing be available), or absent due to the Employee being
diagnosed with COVID-19. In all other instances, and in instances where
the Employee needs to take sick leave to care for other individuals for
whom the Employee has a right to utilize sick leave for under the CBA,
COVID LEAVE shall not apply and standard sick leave, or FFCRA, if
available, shall be utilized for such purpose. For example, an Employee
cannot utilize COVID LEAVE if the Employee is absent solely to care for
the health and wellbeing of an eligible family member. Under such
scenario the Employee would utilize sick leave per the CBA, or FFCRA, if
available. However, during this time, the Employee shall not be required
to perform work duties.
f. Any days remaining in the Employee COVID LEAVE Pool at the end of the 2020-
2021 school year shall be transferred to the Sick Leave Bank contained in Article VIII,
Section Bld of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the parties.
g. Should the number of days transferred from the Employee COVID LEAVE Pool to the
contractual Sick Leave Bank cause the contractual Sick Leave Bank to go over one
hundred fifty (150) days, the limitations contained in Article VIII, Section Bld(xi) of the
Collective Bargaining Agreement between the parties shall be suspended until the
contract year following the first year in which the number of days contained in the Sick
Leave Bank dropped below one-hundred fifty (150) days .

E. Evaluation

1. The Parties agree to delay implementation of OTES 2.0 until the 2021- 2022 school year
at the earliest.

2. The Board and Association agree that in order to meet the professional
requirements for Employee evaluation, the following understandings are affirmed by
the parties for the duration of the 2020-2021 school year only unless otherwise
enacted by Ohio Revised Code and agreed hereafter.

3. It is understood that there will not be student growth measures for the 2020-2021
academic year for individuals being evaluated under the Ohio Teacher Evaluation
System (OTES). Accordingly, OTES evaluations will be based solely on the teacher
performance portion of the evaluation process as determined by teacher
observations and walkthroughs, to the extent permitted by law. However, for school
counselors, the
student metrics portion of the Ohio School Counselor Evaluation System (OSCES) will
continue to be used per state requirements.

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GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page9

4. The delivery of instruction will be impacted by the level of community spread and the
individual circumstances of students and staff. Therefore, the Association and the Board
hereby agree that the observations, walkthroughs and conferences required under
Section VII 06 of the CBA may be conducted as follows:

a) Employee observations, walk throughs and conferences for teachers

reporting to the building, shall be conducted in-person. Employee
observations, walk throughs and conferences for dedicated remote
teachers shall be conducted via Google Meet, and the dedicated remote
teacher being observed has the option to teach from a school building
during the observation. If the dedicated remote teacher exercises this
option, then the Evaluator shall conduct the observation in the same room
as the dedicated
remote teacher.

b) In the event that an Employee is scheduled for an observation and/or

walkthrough by their evaluator and a transition. fr om one learning model
to another is required, the employee may, at his/her discretion, delay the
observation and/or walkthrough for up to seventy-two (72) hours.

c) It is further understood that all of the timelines, notices and procedures set
forth in Article VII D6 shall remain in effect with the exception of the
following:

i. Professional growth plans shall be developed no later than October

31, 2020.
ii. Employees rated Accomplished for the previous year shall notify
the Assistant Superintendent by October 31, 2020 if they wish to
select
their evaluator.
iii. Employees new to the district will be notified of their evaluator by
October 31, 2020.
iv. All other Employees will be notified of their evaluator by October
31, 2020.

F. Transition Language
1. After October 13, 2020, any time the District is required to transition from one
learning model to another, Employees shall be provided at least three calendar
days of notice.
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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School
District GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page 10 I
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2. This notice shall be provided prior to the students shifting models.

3. When at least three calendar days of notice is not possible, Employees will be
provided one work day without students in order to prepare for the transition. If this
day is \
provided, teachers must provide students asynchronous work. \
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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page 11

5. Article Ill, Section R.

No Reprisal
The officers, agents, and members of the Gahanna Jefferson Education Association shall be free
from penalty, restraint or retaliation for their participation in any/all activities that secured this, and any
prior, collective bargaining agreement. This provision does not apply to assignment of position. The
Negotiated Agreement provisions related to assignment apply. This provision expires automatically on
June 30, 2022.

The officers, agents, and members of the Gahanna Jefferson Education Association shall not be
nonrenewed or terminated for their participation in any/all activities that secured this, and any prior,
collective bargaining agreement. This provision expires automatically on June 30, 2027.

6. Article VIII, Section G

Return To Work
Expectations
A. Upon return to work, Employees shall not retaliate against, or intimidate any fellow staff
member or student related to their participation or non-participation in strike activities.
Employees are expected to exhibit professionalism toward one another.

B. Employees shall not discuss negotiations or strike activities with students or in the
presence of students at any time.

7. All other contract language shall remain current contract language.

s. The parties also agree that any and all unfair labor practices will be withdrawn.

9: Duration: This Agreement shall be effective from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

FOR THE ASSOCIATION

FOR THE
BOARD
·· October 17,
2020
Stev- e• s; t ett,
Superintendent
,,· · .

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page 12

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 Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District
GJEA Tentative Agreement
October 17, 2020
Page 12

Side Letter of Agreement

In an effort to ensure an effective and efficient return to instruction, the parties hereby agree that:

1. The Association will convene a meeting of its membership on October 17, 2020, for the
purpose of presenting the tentative agreement. The ratification vote will be held on October 18,
2020.

2. The Board of Education shall meet for the purpose of approving the Tentative Agreement at, or
about, 5:45 p.m. on October 18, 2020. The Board shall only be required to vote on the
Tentative Agreement if it has been approved by the Association.

3. The teachers shall report to their assigned building at their normal contractual time on Monday,
October 19, 2020, for the purpose of providing Enhanced Distance Learning. Access to the
building will be provided on Sunday, October 18, 2020, immediately following Board approval of
the agreement from 6:00 p.m. -8 p.m., to pick up keys and technology . Additionally, District
school buildings will be open at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, October 19 th to accommodate those
members who are unable to complete the pick up of keys and technology on Sunday. We will be
working to restore school email as quickly as possible after ratification. Employees will receive a
text requesting a password update to enable access.

4. Insurances and all other contractual and legal benefits shall be reinstated effective 12:01
a.m. on Oct ober .13, 2020 if the agreement is ratified/approved by both parties.

5. Two (2) instructional days for students shall be added to the end of the 2020 - 2021 student
school year to mitigate lost instructional time for student. Employees shall be compensated
at their individual per diem rate for these days, and the two (2) days shall be May 26th and
May 27th with the teacher work day being scheduled on May 28, 2021.

6. Upon the exchange of the signed TA documents, the parties may announce that an
agreement has been reached. After ratification/ approval of the agreement, the parties will
make an agreed joint statement announcing the resolution of the labor dispute. A copy of the
joint statement will be provided to all Board members and GJEA members which they may
use as reference to engage the community in the healing process.

FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE ASSOCIATION

October 17, 2020

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