EXTRACURRICULAR AND NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES FOR PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
The Wilkes County Board of Education acknowledges that instructing students is the primary mission of the school system. However, in order to carry out the responsibilities of the school system, teachers and other staff members must perform certain non-instructional and extracurricular duties. These additional duties are considered part of all employees’ responsibilities. However, beginning teachers also need adequate opportunities to develop their professional skills and need access to experienced teachers who can mentor them. In light of these goals, the principal of each school has the authority to assign extracurricular and noninstructional duties as necessary to conduct the business of the school, within the following guidelines:
A. EXTRACURRICULAR DUTIES
Beginning Teachers (BTs) and teachers with 27 or more years experience may not be assigned extracurricular duties unless they request the assignments. See attached: Beginning Teacher Extra-Curricular Duties Agreement
1. Extracurricular Duties Defined
Extracurricular duties include those duties performed outside of regular school hours, which are not a part of the teacher’s instructional duties. Examples of extracurricular activities for which consent is required include such things as coaching duties or acting as a faculty sponsor for a student club.
Extracurricular duties do not include such things as time spent in parent-teacher conferences, or activities related to courses taught by the teacher, such as band concerts that are performed as a part of band class.
2. Exceptions Permitted for Compelling Reasons
In cases of compelling need, the superintendent may temporarily suspend Section A of this policy and allow principals to assign extracurricular duties to initially licensed teachers and teachers with 27 or more years of experience. A compelling need arises when a school is unable to staff scheduled extracurricular activities with qualified personnel without using initially licensed teachers and/or teachers with 27 or more years of experience.
B. NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES
Principals shall minimize the assignment of non-instructional duties to all teachers, including initially licensed teachers and teachers with 27 or more years of experience. Specifically, teachers should not be required to use their daily planning periods on an ongoing and regular basis to supervise students. Planning periods generally should be reserved for course planning and meetings with other professional staff regarding the instructional program.
1. Non-instructional Duties Defined
Non-instructional duties include those duties that are not directly related to the instruction and supervision of students. This includes such things as bus duty, carpool duty and regular and ongoing use of planning periods to monitor hallways and cafeterias. Nothing in this policy should be construed to relieve teachers of the responsibility to provide for the safety and proper supervision of students during regular school hours. This includes an expectation that teachers monitor hallways during class changes, assigned lunch periods and other times when they are on duty.
2. Distribution of Non-instructional Duties
Non-instructional duties should be distributed equitably among employees to the extent it is reasonably possible to do so. In assigning non-instructional duties, consideration should be given to the need for initially licensed teachers to have adequate professional development and planning time and access to experienced teachers. Teachers with more than 27 years of experience are expected to devote some time each week to sharing their experience and expertise with less experienced staff members. Principals shall be responsible for structuring such opportunities in such a way that will be beneficial to their schools.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-47(18a); 115C-3.1
Cross References:
Adopted: January 9, 2006
Revised: April 6, 2009