TRANSFERS AND VACANCIES A. A request by a teacher for transfer shall be made to the Human Resources Department in writing prior to April 30 on forms furnished by the Board, and a copy of the transfer request shall be forwarded by the Human Resources Department to the current principal(s) and, unless the teacher prohibits such notification, the HVEA president. After consideration of the transfer requests, any vacancy must be posted. The application shall set forth the reasons for transfer, the school, grade and/or position sought and the applicant's academic qualifications, certifications, and endorsements on file with Human Resources as of March 31. The teacher requesting a transfer will notify and discuss the matter with the principal of the school to which he/she wishes to be transferred. If all parties - the teacher, the principal of the school to which the teacher wishes to transfer, and the Board are in favor of such transfer, then the transfer shall take place. In each case where a teacher has requested a transfer under this Section and where the request is not granted for any reason, the teacher will receive an explanation in a timely manner. However, it is understood that transfers after the close of school shall be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent.
B. It is recognized by both parties that involuntary transfers may be necessary; however, the Board agrees that involuntary transfers will be made only for good cause. Following one week notification, plus consultation with the teacher or teachers and principals concerned at a meeting, including the Superintendent or his/her designee and the association President or his/her designee, it shall be up to the Superintendent of Schools as to whether an involuntary transfer is necessary. Upon written request of the teacher, the association shall also be notified of the reasons for such unrequested transfer.
C. When involuntary transfers are effected for a necessary reduction in a school's staff allocation due to reduced student enrollment, reduced finances or the closing of a building, qualifications, program needs and seniority shall be considered in such transfer decisions. When qualifications and program needs are predominately equal, seniority shall prevail.
D. The filling of instructional vacancies shall be accomplished by using the following procedures:
1. Review all transfer requests.
2. Provide the association President with appropriate postings including qualifications and job descriptions (where possible), as vacancies occur. All known instructional vacancies will be posted in each school building in the district between April 1 and April 15.
1. The posting of extra-curricular vacancies shall be for a period of five (5) workdays.
2. The vacancies shall be posted district-wide, with first preference given to bargaining unit members within the building. Candidates that meet the qualifications shall receive an interview.
3. If the position is not filled from within the building, then qualified district-wide candidates shall be interviewed.
4. Internal candidates not selected for a position shall receive, in writing, the reasons for not being selected. In addition, the District is encouraged to provide suggestions for training and/or experience opportunities that may increase skills and improve the possibility of successful selection for future vacancies.
5. Should the position remain unfilled, the district may post the position to the public.
E. The Board and the association recognize that transfers of personnel to fill vacant instructional staff positions arising during the school year are disruptive to the educational process. However, to insure that recognition is given to the aspirations and abilities of its staff, all such vacant instructional staff positions occurring during the school year will be considered to be filled on a temporary basis when personnel outside the district are hired. All transfer requests made by current staff to these positions shall be given priority in filling these vacancies for the following school year. Teachers desiring a transfer shall endeavor to submit their requests within five (5) working days after the postings. If no transfer request for the position has been made by April 30, then the position may be otherwise filled by the district. Notice will be sent to the association President when a vacancy has been filled on a temporary basis. The Board agrees to inform temporary teachers in writing of this contract provision prior to their employment.
F. All vacant supervisory positions within the instructional staff shall be posted in every school building. A supervisory position is defined as one having the scope and authority of hiring, promoting, demoting, or dismissing employees. No such vacancy shall be filled, except on a temporary basis, until such vacancy shall have been posted for at least two (2) weeks.
G. A Screening Committee including a Huron Valley teacher representing the association may interview candidates for Huron Valley instructional administrative positions.
H. Any qualified teacher may apply for any instructional supervisory vacancy. In filling such vacancy, the Board shall consider the professional qualifications, background, attainments, and other relevant factors, including seniority of all applicants from within the school district, as well as applicants from outside the school district. Provided, however, in all appointments to positions, the Board's decision shall be final and not subject to the grievance procedure.
I. Any teacher who shall be transferred to an administrative or executive position and shall later return to a teacher status shall be entitled to retain such rights as he/she may have had under this Agreement prior to such transfer to supervisory or executive status.
J. A bargaining unit member, who has not previously attained tenure under the Michigan Teacher Tenure Act (MCLA 38.71, et seq.) in a position other than as a classroom teacher, who is placed in a position other than a classroom teacher, shall not be deemed to have tenure in such non-classroom teaching position by virtue of this contract or any individual contract for such non-classroom position, but shall be deemed to have continuing tenure as an active classroom teacher after the probationary period if applicable.
K. Whenever vacancies occur during the normal summer months the following procedures shall be followed:
1. Teachers with specific interests in possible vacancies will notify the Human Resources Department of their interest in writing during the last regular week of school and shall include a summer address.
2. Should a vacancy occur, the teachers who have expressed an interest in said position or similar position shall be contacted by the Human Resources Department and notified of the vacancy.
3. The teachers so notified shall have the responsibility of contacting the Human Resources Department indicating their interest in said position within three (3) days of notification.
4. Notice of summer postings shall be sent to the association President.
5. Vacancies will be posted at the district's administration office for a period of five (5) working days.
VACANCIES, TRANSFERS AND PROMOTIONS A. As it relates to individual employees who are not regulated by the Teacher Tenure Act, a vacancy is defined as a newly created position or a current position in the bargaining unit which the Board intends to fill which has become open due to death, reassignment, retirement, resignation or dismissal of an employee. Such positions will not be posted until all teachers are assigned.
1. The above vacancies shall be posted online and via school email to all staff.
2. Positions as described above shall be posted at least ten (10) business days prior to being permanently filled, unless the vacancy occurs and is posted within ten (10) business days of the first official teacher work day of the school year. In that case, the posting period will be five (5) business days.
3. Any employee may apply for such positions by submitting a written letter to the Superintendent's Office.
4. After the last instructional day of the year, the Board shall post vacancies at the Superintendent’s Office. An employee with a request for a transfer on file under D. below or who has requested summer vacancy notices under C. below will be notified.
B. As it relates to individual employees who are not regulated by the Teacher Tenure Act, an employee desiring to learn of position vacancies that occur during the summer shall leave self-addressed, stamped envelopes in the Personnel Office. Application for and filling of such summer vacancies shall follow the procedures in B. above.
C. As it relates to individual employees who are not regulated by the Teacher Tenure Act, a request by an employee for transfer to a different building or position may be made at any time. Such request shall be made in writing to the Personnel Office with a copy to the Association President. The application shall set forth the school, grade or position sought, and the applicant's qualifications. Such request shall be reviewed twice each year to assure active consideration by the Board. In the event an employee is granted a transfer, the record of the transfer and any pertinent information related to the transfer shall be placed into the employee’s personnel file. No employee will be discriminated against because of a request to transfer.