It is the intent of the Cobb County School District (District) to compensate all certificated and classified employees fairly and consistently. Salaries of certificated employees are determined by the type of Georgia certificate held and the number of years of approved experience.

RULE

A. SALARIES:

    Salaries of certificated personnel will be determined by the type of Georgia certificate

    held and the number of years of experience approved by the appropriate authority.

    Proper procedures for salary payments will be established by the Superintendent and

    designated personnel.

B. EXTENDED DAY/YEAR:

    1. Extended Day:

       Extended day shall be defined as additional time available (a maximum of one

       period/segment per day with additional salary) for teachers at elementary, middle,

       and high school levels to work beyond the regular eight-hour day to provide

       instruction to students.

    2. Extended Year:

       Extended year shall be defined as the additional time available (a maximum of 40 days

       per school year with additional salary) for elementary, middle, and high school level

       teachers to provide instruction to students.

    3. Guidelines:

        a. Additional Pay:

            (1) Additional pay must be provided to professional personnel whose academic

                 duties require them to work an extended school day or school year. Work for

                 which additional pay is provided will be adequately described and appropriate

                 payment schedules established.

            (2) The Superintendent is authorized to determine job descriptions, payment

                 schedules, and payment procedures for the implementation of this policy.

        b. Staff Selection and Responsibilities:

            (1) Extended day/year teachers must be approved by the Principal based on their

                 meeting the approved criteria and activities.

              (2) The base salaried teacher is to perform such tasks as teaching and teacher

                 preparation, staff meetings, conference with students and parents/guardians, 

                 planning conferences and related school activities in the community and extra

                 class responsibilities.

        c. Qualifying:

            The extended day/year salary time must be scheduled to meet program

            responsibilities and student needs beyond tasks expected to be performed by

            teachers during the regular eight hours.

C. SUPERVISION IN ABSENCE OF A SUBSTITUTE:

    1. In extraordinary circumstances and only after a Principal or designee has used every

        effort to secure a substitute with no success, the Principal or designee may assign a

        teacher or teachers to cover classes during the teacher’s planning time.

    2. Annual Plan:

        a. Principals shall annually develop a written plan to

            (1) Assure fairness and equity in the assignment of teachers to cover classes when

                  a substitute cannot be secured.; and

            (2) Identify school-specific critical days as provided in Administrative Rule GCC

                  (Short-Term/Long-Term Leaves and Absences).

        b. These plans shall be submitted to the appropriate Area Assistant Superintendent for

            approval.

D. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE:

    Employees must have on file an Oath of Allegiance.

E. EMPLOYEE EXTENDED DAY/YEAR SALARIES:

    The District establishes the following criteria that apply to all instructors receiving

    extended day/year salaries:

    1. The extended time required will be beyond the employee's normal workday and year

        as defined in Administrative Rules GBRC (Work Day/Week) and ICA (School

        Calendar).

    2. All approved extended instructional activities will relate to instructional student

        competencies approved in Administrative Rule IDA (Student Competencies for

        Basic Program).

    3. Instructors will be limited to teaching one segment out of field.

    4. Payments will be made only for work actually performed.

    5. Monthly/yearly documentation of extended salary time and program responsibilities

        will be maintained and reported to the Georgia Department of Education.

F. CONTRACTS:

   Employment contracts of certificated professional personnel shall be in writing and be

   signed in duplicate by such personnel on their own behalf and by the Superintendent on    

   behalf of the Cobb County Board of Education (Board). By April 15 of each school year,

   the Board shall tender new contracts for the ensuing year to all certificated personnel who

   were on the District’s payroll at the beginning of that school year, except personnel who

   have resigned or who have been terminated, or notify such personnel that they will not be

   rehired for the ensuing school year. Such notification shall be in writing. All contracts will

   contain the following statement:

              “Final salary schedules will be available for teachers on July 1 and
               all other certificated professional personnel on August 1.These
               schedules will indicate the annual salary and will be available on
               the HR section of the District Website at……………. “

G. SALARY DETERMINATION/PAYMENT:
    Salary determination and payment will be as follows:

    1. The following items will be properly processed in the Human Resources Division:

        a. Valid Georgia in-field certificate and/or license

        b. Information Data Sheet

        c. Process employment eligibility verification (I-9)

        d. Oath of Allegiance

        e. Retirement System number or application form, if applicable

        f. Copy of military discharge, if applicable (DD-214)

        g. College transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) and/or other appropriate

            educational credentials

        h. Experience verification form, if applicable

         i. Consent form for background check

    2. All employees of the District will be responsible for reporting any change in name

        (must be accompanied by new Social Security Card reflecting employee's current

        name), home address or withholding tax information. This information must be

        submitted in writing, using the proper forms, to the appropriate division.

    3. Personnel, other than annual employees, who are employed on the beginning date of

        the contract year will be paid in equal monthly installments from August through July.

            Personnel, other than annual employees, who are employed after the beginning date

        of the contract year may have their check adjusted. The remainder of their salary will

        be paid in equal monthly installments through July. Employees can request to receive

        1/12 of their annual salary through the month of May and receive the balance due

        paid in two equal installments in June and July.

    4. Personnel whose employment ends before the May service report period ending date

        will be paid salary due at the next scheduled payday.

    5. Salary payment to certified employees will be made in monthly payments, according to

        the terms of the contract of employment. Deductions from employees' salaries will be

        made for:

        a. Federal and state taxes as provided by law;

        b. Appropriate retirement systems (Teachers' Retirement System [TRS] or Public

            Schools Employees' Retirement Systems [PSERS]) and supplemental retirement

            program;

        c. Social Security;

        d. Medical, cancer, life and dental insurance, if authorized by the employee;

        e. Salary for days absent in excess of allowable leave;

        f. Repayment of money the employee owes to the District;

        g. Other deductions approved by the Board and authorized by the employee.

    6. Credit for Experience Out of the District:

        Certificated employees new to the District will be placed at step one of the appropriate

        salary and certification level. Upon receipt of verified experience and a valid in-field

        certificate, the salary will be appropriately adjusted. Teaching experience gained

        outside the District in an accredited, Georgia-recognized program will be credited year

        for year.

    7. Inability to Obtain Certificate:

        If the employee is unable to be properly certified as specified by the Georgia

        Professional Standards Commission, the employment contract shall be terminated. In

        the event the employer was unaware of the employee's inability to be certified in

        Georgia, or to maintain necessary certification, the employee's daily rate of pay shall

        be adjusted to that of a supply teacher retroactive to the beginning date of

        employment under this contract or to the date the certificate became invalid,

        whichever is more recent. Salary adjustments can be made only during the current

        fiscal year.

    8. Student Teacher Supervision:

        Certificated employees directly supervising student teachers may receive

        remuneration from colleges/universities for the supervision and evaluation of student

        teachers. Funds will be submitted to the District’s Financial Services Division. In

        addition, the college/university should include each teacher's name, Social Security

        number and the amount to be disbursed. The Financial Services Division will disburse

        appropriate payment to the specified teachers. The supervising teacher must meet the

        following qualifications:

        a. Hold a valid Georgia certificate in the field(s) in which the supervised student

            teacher will be practicing.

        b. Meet all requirements as prescribed by the college or university.

        c. Have demonstrated successful teaching experience.

        d. Have the approval of the Principal and the appropriate central office administrator.

    9. Overtime:

        The District has approved the use of overtime as provided in Administrative Rule GBCB

        (Staff Compensation: Overtime/Compensatory Time).

    10. Holiday Pay:

        Holiday Pay for Hourly Employees guidelines may be found in Administrative

        Rule GCRJ (Holiday Premium for Hourly Employees) and Administrative Rule GBCB

        (Staff Compensation: Overtime/Compensatory Time).

    11. Withholding Salary Step:

          The District shall withhold a step increase for any employee who receives an

          unsatisfactory annual evaluation during the annual evaluation period. If the

          employee is on a step plateau at the time the step increase is withheld, that

          employee will remain on the step plateau an additional year.

      12. New Teacher Orientation:

          Certificated professional personnel new to the District, except those not on a 191-day

          contract, but including those teachers who have been out of the District for at least

          twenty-four months will be paid a supplemental stipend as a condition of their

          contract for the required New Teacher’s Orientation Days.

Adopted: 6/15/66
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Reviewed: 7/28/77; 8/8/84
Revised: 5/74; 8/13/75; 8/10/77; 7/27/78; 9/23/82; 5/26/83; 6/19/86; 8/28/86; 11/25/86; l/28/88; 1/10/90; 6/27/91; 9/22/94; 3/28/96; 06/10/96; 05/14/97; 07/09/97; 08/13/97; 07/22/99; 12/09/99; 2/22/01; 12/9/04; 11/14/07; 5/14/08