GCKPROFESSIONAL STAFF ASSIGNMENTS
AND TRANSFERS
GCKThe Superintendent shall have the responsibility for the assignment of all personnel throughout the District. The procedure for assignment and transfer of professional staff members will be based on the needs of the instructional program. In addition, no right to school, grade, or subject assignment shall be inferred from the teacher's contract.
A teacher who has been employed by the District for the major portion of three (3) or more consecutive school years and who is currently designated in the lowest performance classification for two (2) consecutive school years shall not be transferred as a teacher to another school in the District unless the District has issued a preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance and approved a performance improvement plan for the teacher and the Governing Board has approved the new placement as in the best interests of the pupils in the school. Following a transfer under this provision, a teacher who continues to be designated in one (1) of the two (2) lowest performance classifications shall not be permitted to transfer to another school. A teacher shall not be transferred more than once under the provisions of this paragraph.
The transfer of teachers from one school to another school within the District shall take into consideration the needs of the pupils in the District and the current distribution of teachers across all of the four (4) performance classifications as adopted by the State Board of Education.
Professional staff members may apply for transfer or reassignment, whether or not a vacancy exists. Transfers will not be approved during the school year unless the needs of the District dictate such approval.
In the case of vacancies in new or existing positions, first consideration will be given to qualified applicants among current employees.
The resolution of any conflicts over the need for a transfer shall be based on what is best for the instructional program, the needs of the students, and the overall needs of the District as defined by the Superintendent.
Voluntary Transfers - Certificated
Voluntary transfers may be requested by employees. If the request involves transfer to another location but in the same job classification, the Voluntary Transfer Form must be completed within the designated Voluntary Transfer Window and filed in the Human Resources Department. In addition, employees who complete the Voluntary Transfer Form must also submit an internal application. If an employee is interviewed by a supervisor for an opening, that supervisor will notify the employee of the outcome of that interview. Voluntary transfer requests after the designated Voluntary Transfer Window will require the approval of the Superintendent. Voluntary Transfer Windows are subject to change annually dependent upon both Governing Board approved school and ten (10) month work calendars.
Voluntary Transfers to School
Opening for the First Time
Any transfer of an existing teacher to a new school must be limited in such a way as to balance the needs of the new school and the needs of the existing school from which the employee is being transferred. Every effort will be made to ensure that every grade level or department should have one (1) or more teachers with more than three (3) years of in-District experience.
Involuntary Transfer Policy - Certificated
When a transfer is determined to be necessary, certificated staff may be involuntarily moved to another assignment within the District according to the following procedures:
A. When the transfer is due to enrollment shifts:
1. The principal will first discuss the reduction with all certificated staff at the grade level or department being affected.
2. Thereafter, the general school staff will be informed and may be invited to share in seeking solutions.
B. When the transfer is for other than enrollment changes, the principal shall consult with the teacher affected under the provisions of bulleted items listed below under Identifying Those To Be Transferred.
Identifying Those To Be Transferred:
A. When it is possible to meet staff reduction needs of a given facility by in-school transfers, staff in that location may volunteer to be moved to another position before involuntary transfers are identified.
B. The principal will discuss the instructional needs of the grade level or department with the affected staff and ask for volunteers to transfer. Those who volunteer to be transferred will be considered first, but are not automatically selected for reassignment.
C. Selection of individuals for transfer will be based upon the following criteria:
1. The instructional and activity needs of the school as determined by the principal.
2. It shall be the policy of the Board that professional staff be assigned on the basis of their qualifications, the needs of the District, and their expressed desires. When it is not possible to meet all three (3) conditions, staff shall be assigned first in accordance with the needs of the District, second where the Superintendent determines the employee is most qualified to serve, and third as to the expressed preferences of the employee.
3. Any transfer consideration would need to take into account the resulting impact on the equitable distribution of effective and highly effective teachers.
D. The principal will prepare a written rationale describing the basis for each involuntary transfer. A copy of the rationale will be given to the teacher and forwarded to Human Resources. The teacher may request a review of the transfer. The review will be completed by Human Resources, the teacher, and if the teacher chooses, a principal of the teacher's choice. If the review contradicts the original decision, the findings will be forwarded to the Superintendent for final disposition.
E. The resolution of any conflicts over the need for a transfer shall be based on what is best for the instructional program, the needs of the students, and the overall needs of the District as defined by the Superintendent.
Voluntary transfer policy changes will go into effect beginning in the 2020-21 School Year.
Adopted: April 13, 2020
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-537