Educators in the Albuquerque Teachers Federation (ATF) Bargaining Unit voted 96.1% FOR the 2020-2021 changes to our APS/ATF Negotiated Agreement.
Now, it’s time for ATF and the District to present the contract to the APS Board of Education to vote on accepting the changes. The Board will vote on Wednesday, September 2nd. You can watch the Board meeting online »
Please take the time to read this summary of the changes to our Negotiated Agreement at the end of this article.
2020-2021 Negotiated Agreement »
2020-2021 Salary Matrices »
Thank you to the ATF Negotiations Team who worked all through the Spring and Summer to bring you the changes to our Negotiated Agreement.
- Ellen Bernstein, ATF President
- Sean Thomas, Executive VP, Eldorado Hs
- Sarah Hager, ATF Secretary, Cleveland MS
- Tanya Kuhnee, High School VP, Eldorado HS
- Jason Krosinsky, Middle School VP, McKinley MS
- Sonya Romero Smith, Elementary School VP, Lew Wallace ES
- Loyola Cortinas, Tierra Antigua ES Elementary School VP
- Angela Reynolds, Essential & Related Services Educators VP, NE Diagnostic Center
- Derek Villanueva, Treasurer, Manzano HS
- Joseph O’Connell, ATF Staff Representative
- Jerry Thorn, ATF Staff Representative`
Summary of Changes in the APS/ATF Negotiated Agreement
Article 2, FEDERATION RIGHTS
New language added that brings this portion of the negotiated agreement into alignment with newly passed changes to the New Mexico Public Employee Bargaining Act (PEBA). Adding “protected concerted activity” rights. Also establishes a window and process for individuals to drop union membership.
Article 5, CONDITIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Embedded already existing language previously found in Appendix J.8 MOU entitled “The common core state standards, standards-based teaching practices, & the relation to APS programs and practices” and Appendix J.17 MOU entitled “Room Changes.”
New language added meant to better define rules and expectations around advisories and student led conferences.
Also, the word “pupil” was changed to “student” throughout the Negotiated Agreement as is done here.
ARTICLE 6, REMUNERATION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Changes made that streamline the summer school assignments in eCademy and alters the pay per session.
New language added to allow school social workers to be paid for performing social-emotional evaluations outside the contract year.
New language added that allows for educators coming into APS to fill a new role have their pay held harmless while they fulfill the requirements of their license level.
Embedded existing language that was previously found in Appendix J.27 MOU entitled “In-district experience for educational diagnosticians and transition specialists and licensed school psychologists (A-3) employees.”
Also, embedded language previously found in Appendix J.13 MOU entitled “ESL Differentials” and language previously found in Appendix J.18 MOU entitled “Athletic Directors.”
Changed language that will allow more educators to be eligible for the $1,000 TESOL/Bilingual support differential.
New language added that requires the district to notify employees before making pay adjustments and if necessary, work with the employee on any potential repayment plan for overcompensation.
ARTICLE 7, INSTRUCTIONAL COUNCILS (ICs)
Clarified already established practice on the scope of IC decision making responsibilities.
Cleaned up and clarified language.
Clarified that school staff and their respective ICs have the right to see school budgets and budget projections in a timely manner to allow each school IC to make the financial decisions it’s responsible for. Added the word “at-risk” to describe discretionary monies. Also, clarified the process to change a position funded with discretionary monies if the position isn’t vacant.
Article 9, THE MENTOR/PEER ASSISTANCE AND REVIEW PROGRAM: AN APS/ATF PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Established a joint ATF/APS mentorship program for all essential and related service educators new to the profession.
Made language clean up changes.
ARTICLE 10, ESSENTIAL AND RELATED SERVICE EDUCATORS (E&RSE) CAREER PATHWAY SYSTEM
Embedded language that already existed and was previously found in Appendix J.15 MOU entitled “Hiring of Associate Degree Nurses.” Also, a change was made through contract administration that brings AD nurses to parity with other 90% eligible certified staff in APS. Also clarified that associate degree nurses need to be seeking to attain their BSN in nursing.
Embedded language that was previously found in Appendix J.19 MOU entitled “Athletic Trainers.”
ARTICLE 11, SPECIAL EDUCATION
Moved board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA) from the A-2 salary matrix to the A-3 salary matrix.
Clarified that each Head Teacher at a school will receive the appropriate differential if there is more than one at any given site.
Codified established practices reviewing the “mutually agreed upon list” of approved certifications and endorsements, along with criteria to be approved for A-2 salary matrix for employees and social workers.
Embedded language that already existed and was previously found in Appendix J.2 MOU entitled “Head Special Education Teacher Positions.”
Embedded language that was previously found in Appendix J.10 MOU entitled “SLP and Social Worker Caseloads.”
Article 17, ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFERS
Change made that limits voluntary transfer to two per school year and creates an appeal process through contract administration for those who’ve been denied. It also deletes the waiting period of 10 workdays to transfer, it does leave the waiting period until the end of the grading period.
Article 18, LEAVES
Added new language allowing educators to take one day of bereavement leave to attend the funeral of a current or former student.
Article 27, DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND REASONABLE SUSPICION TESTING
Established a more detailed reasonable suspicion testing protocol
Article 29, HEALTH AND SAFETY
Made changes that better defines and enhances employees’ rights to not work in unsafe environments as determined by the NM Department of Health. Also delineated a process that would need to be followed to ensure safety concerns are addressed by the district and that the educator(s) be provided a safe alternative workspace until the issue is resolved.
Article 31, DURATION OF AGREEMENT
Added language that allows for negotiations to be reopened when the state changes the SEG unit value, also the years have been updated to be current.
APPENDIX A SALARY MATRICIES
Codified a 1% salary increase for all current ATF represented staff.
Appendix J.34, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU), Teacher Leader Facilitators 2020-2021
The Teacher Leader Facilitator (TLF) position was created and established last school year in this same appendix as a pilot program, this year’s TLF MOU clarifies the position, it’s responsibilities, how it’s filled, and how the programs itself is evaluated.
Memorandum of Understanding, Student Discipline Task Force
New MOU establishing a joint task force to examine and make recommendations for changes to the language currently found in Article 21, Student Discipline.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, 24 paychecks
New MOU stating APS and ATF will research the feasibility of moving ATF’s bargaining unit to a 24-paycheck model of compensation.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, A Professional Workday Pilot 2020-2021
New MOU that establishes a pilot program to move those in the ATF bargaining unit to an 8-hour professional workday.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, High School Senior Capstone Project Task Force
New MOU that established a joint ATF and APS task force to work on the creation of general criteria, guidelines and suggestions for the implementation of capstone projects as a curricular option for students.
COVID-19 Memoranda of Understanding
This MOU establishes many terms and conditions of employment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Including the right to work from home during remote learning model and the right to be provided adequate PPE when at school sites.
