New Contract Question

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Ohio Teachers Chatboard

New Contract Question

by Spouse of Teacher

May 15, 2009

My wife has been subbing for the last year at a district she would love to work in. Unfortunately the job possibilities there are small. She has some interviews with other districts that would not be first choice. I know this putting the cart miles before the horse, but what are her options if she is offered a position in the second choice district and then is offered a position in the favorite district? Do you immediatley sign a contract when you are offered a position or is there a grace period moving closer to the start of the year? What if she has signed the contract when another job is offerred but the school year has not started?

In this climate I will admit that 2 offers is a long shot, but am the worrying kind of spouse. I am also amazed at how little of this nuts and bolts career basics are taught while pursuing an education degree. They dont really discuss the business side of the job at all.

Thanks for any advce

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pksped If your wife were to be offered a job today, she would immediately sign a new contract for the 09-10 school year. This is for her benefit; you want her to sign a contract as soon as possible. If a second district were to offer her a contract, then she could legally (and easily) break the first contract by the "magic date." I believe the magic date ...See MoreIf your wife were to be offered a job today, she would immediately sign a new contract for the 09-10 school year. This is for her benefit; you want her to sign a contract as soon as possible. If a second district were to offer her a contract, then she could legally (and easily) break the first contract by the "magic date." I believe the magic date in Ohio is July 10; hopefully someone will correct me if that date is wrong. Assuming I am correct, then these things could happen: 1) She could break the original contract as late as July 9. She really should break it as soon as possible to be fair to that school district; don't encourage her to hold on to it "just in case" she changes her mind about the 2nd school district. They need time to find a qualified teacher before the "magic date" when everyone else is locked into place. 2) She could actually break the original contract after July 10. Most of the time, that school district would be very understanding and release her with no problem; heaven knows there are a wealth of other applicants from which to choose. HOWEVER, the school district legally could hold her, meaning that she is forced to teach for them for the year or they could legally "hold" her teaching contract for one school year, blocking her from teaching ANYWHERE for the 09-10 school year. I know teachers who left after that date (they were offered a principal position, etc) and to my knowledge, our district has never penalized anyone. That law is to protect teachers and districts so that multiple people aren't holding out until the last second. After July 10, things are pretty much cemented in any district, save for new jobs created (an extra large 2nd grade bunch that requires an additional teacher, a medical emergency, a job that admin know would need to be created but they never got around to posting it yet, etc.)

Speaking of the business side, you probably know this, but there is no negotiating with a teacher's contract (like there is in the business world.) Your wife will be offered what every other teacher (with similar experience and education background) is offered. She won't get more for teaching in an area of teacher shortage, because she has an ivy league degree, etc. Pay differs per district, but not within the district (again, comparing two people with similar backgrounds and educational experiences.)

n 5/15/09, Spouse of Teacher wrote: > My wife has been subbing for the last year at a district > she would love to work in. Unfortunately the job > possibilities there are small. She has some interviews > with other districts that would not be first choice. I > know this putting the cart miles before the horse, but > what are her options if she is offered a position in the > second choice district and then is offered a position in > the favorite district? Do you immediatley sign a contract > when you are offered a position or is there a grace period > moving closer to the start of the year? What if she has > signed the contract when another job is offerred but the > school year has not started? > > In this climate I will admit that 2 offers is a long shot, > but am the worrying kind of spouse. I am also amazed at > how little of this nuts and bolts career basics are taught > while pursuing an education degree. They dont really > discuss the business side of the job at all. > > Thanks for any advce

May 16, 2009

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Holly The magic date to break contracts is mid July, however, I know most districts will let you out of the contract after that date anyway.

Schools do not want someone teaching there if it is not where they want to be.

So, I would have your wife sign the first contract that comes her way regardless and then if something better comes ...See More

Jun 22, 2009

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