A Message From Linda Lindberg, Your Grievance Chairperson.

A unit member recently requested the bargaining team to negotiate a window period for voluntary transfers after the site principal assignments have been made. We have requested this language in the past, but were rebuffed. There is a way to deal with the uncertainty of whom your principal may be each year. Many members submit a request for a voluntary transfer every year just in case something happens such as the transfer of your principal to another school. The submission of a transfer request does not mean you will have to transfer, but the option is available if you so choose.

In recent years we were able to bargain for a window period for voluntary transfers after grade and track assignments have been officially announced at year round sites. The period is five days from the announcement of your assignment to file a transfer request. Below is the actual language from our contract concerning voluntary transfer timelines.

ARTICLE VII: TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT AND REASSIGNMENT

UNIT MEMBER INITIATED TRANSFERS

Any unit member may request a voluntary transfer to any school or assignment for which he/she is credentialed, subject to the following conditions:

Submission of a request for voluntary transfer for the following school year shall be in writing on or before February 1.

Unit members at YRS sites shall be granted five (5) days immediately following the official announcement of grade and track assignments to submit a request for transfer. Said unit members shall be given consideration for all vacant or anticipated vacant positions for which they are qualified without having to submit a specific application for a posted vacancy.

Properly filed voluntary transfer applications shall be given administrative consideration and shall be valid for the school year subsequent to the date of submission to the Personnel Office.

Prior to any voluntary transfer being made either the unit member or the unit member’s supervisor may request a conference. Such conference shall be granted. At such conference the transfer may be discussed along with any possible alternative.