| School Board of Alachua County |
| Bylaws & Policies |
3128 - CONTRACTS: INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL
Any person employed as a member of the instructional staff shall hold a valid Florida Teaching Certificate except as noted elsewhere in policy. All instructional staff shall be entitled to and shall enter into a written annual or professional services contract with the Board as provided by law. All contracts shall be on forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. Any member of the instructional staff who is willfully absent from duty without leave shall forfeit compensation for the time absent, and his/her contract shall be subject to cancellation by the Board.
Each individual newly hired as instructional personnel by the Board must be awarded a probationary contract. Upon successful completion of the probationary contract, the Board may award an annual contract. An annual contract may be awarded for instructional personnel who have successfully completed a probationary contract with the Board and have received one (1) or more annual contracts from the Board. An annual contract may be awarded only if the employee:
| A. | holds an active professional certificate or temporary certificate issued pursuant to F.S. 1012.56 and rules of the State Board of Education; | |
| B. | has been recommended by the Superintendent for the annual contract based upon the individual's evaluation under F.S. 1012.34 and approved by the Board; and | |
| C. | has not received two (2) consecutive annual performance evaluation ratings of unsatisfactory, two (2) annual performance evaluation rating of unsatisfactory within a three (3) year period, or three (3) consecutive annual performance evaluation ratings of needs improvement or a combination of needs improvement and unsatisfactory under F.S. 1012.34, |
Failure to signify acceptance of an initial appointment within ten (10) days after receipt of the official notice of appointment shall be considered a rejection of the offer and the position shall be declared vacant.
The contract shall be in accordance with the duly adopted salary schedule of the Board and shall be for a definite term of service. A true signed copy of the contract shall be retained by the Board in the office of the Superintendent.
Probation
The initial contract shall be a probationary period during which the employee may be dismissed without cause or may resign without their resignation constituting a breach of contract.
Non-Certified Instructional Personnel
| A. | Occupational Therapists/Physical Therapists | |
| The Board may employ non-certificated persons licensed by the State of Florida as occupational therapists or as physical therapists to render services to students in those areas covered by such license. The procedures for employment shall be the same as provided by law for certificated instructional personnel, and each person so employed shall be entitled to a written contract in the form prescribed pursuant to F.A.C. 6A-1.064. Provided, however, that a non-certificated person employed to render services as an occupational therapist or as a physical therapist may not be assigned duties of an instructional nature that are not covered within the scope of the person's license as defined by law. | ||
| B. | Audiologists/Speech Pathologists | |
| The Board may employ persons certified as audiologists or speech pathologists under F.S. Chapter 468, Part II to render services to students in those areas covered by such certificate of registration. The procedure for employment shall be the same as provided by law for certificated instructional personnel, and each person so employed shall be entitled to a written contract in the form prescribed pursuant to F.A.C. 6A-1.064. Provided, however, that a non-certificated person employed to render services as an audiologist or speech pathologist may not be assigned duties of an instructional nature that are not covered within the scope of the person's certificate of registration as defined by law. | ||
| C. | Non-Certificated | |
| Individuals who possess expert skill in or knowledge of a particular subject or talent may be employed as a member of the instructional staff to provide instructional service in the individual's field or specialty. A teaching certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education or the District will not be required provided the person meets the qualifications of Florida law and State regulations. These individuals may not be assigned duties of an instructional nature not covered by their field of expertise. |
F.S. 1001.42, 1001.43, 1012.22, 1012.32, 1012.33, 1012.335, 1012.34, 1012.56
F.A.C. 6A-1.0502, 6A-1.064
Adopted 7/17/07
Revised 3/20/12
© Neola 2011