Avery County Schools Policy Policy Code: 3622/7405
EXTRACURRICULAR AND NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES
The Board acknowledges that instructing students is the primary mission of the school system. Generally, in order to carry out the responsibilities of the school system, teachers and other staff members may also be required to perform certain non-instructional and extracurricular duties. Assigned additional duties are considered part of all employees’ responsibilities. However, assignment of additional duties to teachers should be minimized to allow time for teachers to plan, collaborate with colleagues, conference with parents, tutor students and perform any other activities that have a direct impact on student achievement. 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 non-instructional duties as necessary to conduct the business of the school, within the following guidelines.
A. EXTRACURRICULAR DUTIES
Initially licensed teachers may not be assigned extracurricular duties unless they
request the assignments in writing.
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, taking tickets at sporting events, 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, initially licensed teachers may be required to
perform extracurricular duties if the procedures set forth in this paragraph
are followed.
a. Compelling Need Defined
A compelling need arises when the principal of a school is not
reasonably able to staff extracurricular activities with qualified
personnel without using initially licensed teachers and no initially
licensed teachers have volunteered in writing to perform these
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 3622/7405 Page 1 of 4 activities. In determining whether a compelling need exists, it will be assumed that teaching assistants and other non-certified employees cannot be assigned to extracurricular duties unless the assignment is approved in advance by the superintendent or designee. Examples of compelling need include circumstances when:
(1) an employee who is scheduled to perform an
extracurricular duty is unexpectedly unavailable and the
position must be filled quickly;
(2) the school principal cannot adequately fill extracurricular
duty positions without additional reliance on initially
licensed teachers; or
(3) an extracurricular duty must be supervised by individuals
with certain experience, skills or qualifications and
initially licensed teachers are the only qualified staff
members who possess the required experience, skills or
qualifications.
b. Process for Granting a Compelling Need Waiver
(1) Board Waiver
In cases where the need for a waiver is reasonably
foreseeable and there is an opportunity to bring the matter
before the board of education for approval prior to the extra
duty, the superintendent shall bring the matter to the board
for a decision on the waiver request. The recommendation
for a waiver must be in writing and set forth the
circumstances requiring the waiver. The board minutes or
other documentation shall reflect the reasons for granting
the waiver.
(2) Superintendent Waiver
If there is not a scheduled board meeting prior to the need
to staff the extracurricular activity, the superintendent may
waive the requirement upon a finding of compelling need.
The superintendent shall make a written record of all such
waivers and the circumstances for requesting each waiver.
At the next regular board meeting, the superintendent shall
report to the board any past waivers made and the reasons
therefore. If the waiver is for an ongoing activity, the
superintendent must seek and obtain board approval to
continue the initially licensed teacher in the extracurricular
activity in accordance with the procedure in paragraph (1),
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 3622/7405 Page 2 of 4 above.
(3) Principal Waiver
If there is an exigent need to waive the policy, such as the
unexpected illness or absence of an employee, then the
school principal is authorized to waive the policy
temporarily for up to five days. However, the principal
must report the waiver to the superintendent in writing,
setting forth the circumstances requiring the waiver. The
superintendent must approve all waivers over five days, as
provided in paragraph (2), above. The board must approve
all continuing waivers at its next regular meeting, as
provided in paragraph (1) above.
(4) Teacher Access to Records
The teacher may request and shall be entitled to receive any
documentation regarding any waivers requested or granted
under this policy.
B. NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES
Principals shall minimize the assignment of non-instructional duties to all
teachers, including initially licensed teachers. 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 refer to those duties that are not directly involved
with the instructional program or the implementation of the current
statewide instructional standards, but that all teachers are expected to do.
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 supervision of students during
regular school hours, as necessary to maintain order and discipline in the
school.
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, planning
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 3622/7405 Page 3 of 4 time and access to more experienced teachers. Principals shall be responsible for structuring such opportunities in such a way that will be beneficial to their schools.
C. EVALUATION
The failure of an initially licensed teacher to volunteer to perform extracurricular
duties shall not be appropriate grounds to lower the teacher’s evaluation nor just
cause for less than proficient evaluation rating of an initially licensed teacher,
provided that the teacher has conducted himself/herself in a professional manner
when declining to accept extracurricular duties. However, a teacher’s failure to
perform an assigned non-instructional or extracurricular duty in a competent and
professional manner may be considered as a part of the teacher’s evaluation.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-47(18a), -301.1; State Board of Education Policy LICN-004
Cross References:
Adopted: 10/01/01 Revised: 4/16/12; 4/14/15; 1/10/17; 4/28/17
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