Tuition Reimbursement A. The BOARD agrees to allocate the sum of $35,000 per year for each contract year for the purpose of reimbursing teachers at the rate of $90 per semester or credit hour for the actual tuition expenses incurred by teachers for academic courses completed.
B. It is understood that the academic courses completed must be towards an M.A., Ed.S., Ed.D., or Ph.D. degree or be within or related to the field in which the teacher is assigned. Academic courses completed must be from an accredited college or university.
C. In order to receive reimbursement for academic courses completed during the preceding contract year, the teacher must still be under contract with the BOARD for the current school year and s/he must submit a transcript of credits to the Department of Employee Services on or before September 30th of the current school year. It is understood that teachers involuntarily laid off shall receive the applicable amount of tuition reimbursement for academic courses completed prior to the end of the present contract year in which they received notice of layoff, provided that they comply with the requirements and time limits set forth above. Payment shall be made within 30 days after the filing deadline. Teachers who are on a general leave of absence as provided under Article VII, Section 1, B, may apply for and receive tuition reimbursement under this provision provided that they sign a promissory note that in the event they do not return to the school district the following year they will repay the total amount of reimbursement to the BOARD. Failure of a teacher to repay such amount will result in the reduction of the tuition reimbursement fund by the same amount the following year.
D. In the event the total request for reimbursement exceeds the amount allocated, payments to each teacher shall be reduced in proportion to the amount by which the total request exceeds the allocation.
E. The BOARD agrees to reimburse total expenses for tuition, materials, and mileage of any teacher who, at the BOARD'S specific request and terms, agrees to obtain additional academic training for the purpose of becoming qualified in an area for which the BOARD is having a great deal of difficulty in securing new personnel. This reimbursement is not to be deducted from the allocation mentioned above.
Educational Reimbursement 1. The Board will create an Educational Reimbursement Fund as shown below. The fund will be used for tuition reimbursement for full-time and part-time (25-hour) staff members after one year of employment, in accredited (by the Higher Learning Commission or equivalent), credit-bearing programs of study at a college or university. For FY 2017 (7/1/2016 – 6/30/2017) the amount will be $42,000 For FY 2018 (7/1/2017 – 6/30/2018) the amount will be $42,000 For FY 2019 (7/1/2018 – 6/30/2019) the amount will be $42,000 For FY 2020 (7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020) the amount will be $42,000 For FY 2021 (7/1/2020 – 6/30/2021) the amount will be $42,000 • Courses which provide job-related information • Courses which develop job-related skills • Courses in an accredited degree program
3. All courses must be taken for credit. Eligible employees must receive a grade of “C” or better to receive reimbursement. Continuing education units (CEUs) and courses taken on an audit basis are not eligible for tuition reimbursement.
4. If an employee receives a scholarship, monetary gift, or grant for educational expenses, the employee must provide proof of the amount, and the Educational Reimbursement Fund may reimburse the difference owed, per the stipulations in items 9 and 13 below.
5. To receive money from the fund, the employee must submit a Staff Tuition Reimbursement form to Human Resources 4 weeks prior to the start date of the course, and must provide: • A copy of the student schedule with start/end dates, and • A copy of the tuition ▇▇▇▇.
6. Employees who meet these deadlines shall be reimbursed for courses up to $345 per credit hour for classes taken on a semester schedule and $230 per credit hour for courses taken on a quarter/trimester schedule. Costs for student activity fees and other miscellaneous expenses related to taking courses are not reimbursable.
7. No later than 30 days after the completion of the course, employees who have submitted all materials according to above deadlines shall submit to Human Resources: • Proof of grade or official transcript/or certificate of completion (H.R. will retain these documents); and • Original paid tuition receipt.
8. To receive reimbursement, the course must be completed within six months of the course ending date.
9. An eligible employee may be reimbursed for not more than four semester hours (six quarter hours) per term, and not more than nine semester hours (13.5 quarter hours) per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).
10. Employees must maintain their status as College employees throughout the approved term and at the time the grade is submitted to Human Resources to receive tuition reimbursement.
11. Employees may also request money from this fund for work-related educational seminars, workshops and travel.
12. No employee shall receive more than $600 per year from the fund for seminars, workshops and travel, except as provided under item 15 below.
13. No employee may be reimbursed more than $3,105 from this fund per fiscal year, except as provided under item 15 below.
14. A list of employees who have been reimbursed and the status of the Educational Reimbursement Fund shall be given to the Association President prior to June 1 of each year.
15. Should there be excess funds available after the June 1 list is received, the Educational Reimbursement Committee, which considers requests and approves funding, may reimburse employees who have received the maximum funding for that year and whose approved educational expenses were capped.