Professional Growth

• Professional Growth Application

CHANGES TO ARTICLE 3.2 - PROFESSIONAL GROWTH COMPENSATION January 23, 2024

Pursuant to a mutually-agreed upon negotiations between the Palo Verde Community College District ("District") and the California School Employees Association and its Chapter 180 ("CSEA") (collectively "Parties") the Parties agree to the following changes to Article 3.2 - Professional Growth Compensation as follows:

3.2 Professional Growth Compensation

A one-time payment of $200.00 per semester unit or $140.00 per quarter unit will be paid to regular classified employees upon completion of courses not offered at Palo Verde College. Such courses must be part of a program of professional advancement approved by the immediate supervisor and the Superintendent/President. A one-time payment of $100.00 per semester unit will be paid to regular classified employees who take courses on their own time at Palo Verde College as part of a program of professional advancement approved by the immediate supervisor and Superintendent/President. The program must be approved at least one month prior to enrolling in the courses and the professional advancement process should become part of the yearly performance appraisal conferences. Unit members seeking professional certifications (i.e., Cisco, Microsoft, or other extensive professional certifications pertaining to professional advancement) with approval of the immediate supervisor and Superintendent/President may access Professional Growth compensation covered under this section.

There shall be an $8,000 maximum annual District contribution toward payment of professional growth programs for the benefit of unit members, including the cost of release time (based upon the unit members' hourly rate of pay) to participate in such programs during duty hours. Payment of professional growth is based upon full-time unit members receiving 100% of the professional growth rate, limited to six (6) units per semester and pro-rated for permanent part-time unit members based on the number of hours worked per week, limited to three (3) units per semester. If a unit member receives any monies from another source (i.e., staff development, financial aid, grants, etc.) the person shall not be entitled to receive district professional growth funds.

In order to qualify for Professional Growth, the employee must make a financial contribution towards their degree. Professional Growth funds will not be granted where an employee has no financial contribution (such as due to a full scholarship). Eligible employees may receive funding for only one Associate's degree, one Bachelor's degree, one Master's degree, and/or one Doctorate degree per employee, on a first-come, first-serve basis limited to the extent of the Professional Growth funds provided for under this section; however, there shall be a minimum one-year gap between completing each degree in order to be eligible for professional Growth for the next degree.

Any unused portion of the annual District contribution of professional growth will be carried over to the following fiscal year and every fiscal year thereafter. Upon written request from CSEA, an annual summary of the account status will be submitted to the CSEA Executive Board. In addition, classified employees are eligible to use staff development funds beyond the amount of this agreement by application to the Staff Development Committee.

A unit member will receive up to three hours of release time per week when such unit member must take a course to receive an A.A./A.S. degree at the end of the term and the course is not taught during the unit member's non-working hours. If a unit member elects to receive release time during their normal working hours, they shall not be entitled to additional compensation as stated in Item A.

Any number of courses may be taken during an employee's non-duty time. An employee may be excused from duty to take one approved course or class a semester with the approval of the immediate supervisor as part of a professional growth plan under paragraphs a, b, or c above. Alternate coverage for the position shall be arranged. No professional growth plan will be required if the released time involves a short seminar or conference that is connected to job performance.

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The Parties executed this Tentative Agreement on January 23, 2024, under the authority and approval of each respective Party's negotiations team. This Tentative Agreement is effective July 1, 2023, and is subject to review and ratification under CSEA's policy 610, and ratification by the Palo Verde Community College District Board of Education.

FOR PALO VERDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Robert Miller, Interim Superintendent/President
Palo Verde Community College District

FOR CSEA and its CHAPTER 180 Rich Soto, President
Dale Wissman, Labor Relations Representative
CSEA Chapter 180 California School Employees Association (CSEA)