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1. General

1.1 Each salaried member of the FCTA may claim up to $700 per year (July 1 – June  30), as long as funds are available. If staff organizes a school-based professional development activity that totally uses up that school’s District (School) Professional Development Account, participating teachers from that school may use up to $180 each of their $700 individual limit to cover the additional costs.
NOTE: Members may not claim mileage when attending individual Pro D activities at
their place of employment.

1.2 As long as teacher-on-call days permit, each salaried member of the FCTA may claim up to 5 TTOC days per year or at the discretion of the FCTA Pro D Chair; part- time members may claim their percentage employment times 5 TTOC days. The FCTA Pro D Chair may claim up to 5 TTOC days for planning and administration.

1.3 Teachers on call or Teacher Replacements who are registered to vote in the FCTA may claim up to $350.

1.4 As a general principle, only professional development initiated by the teacher is an appropriate claim on the Pro D Fund.

1.5 Once an online application for reserved funds for an individual professional development activity has been submitted and approved by the FCTA Pro D Chair, a TTOC can be requested, subject to the total limit of TTOC days, as stated in the collective agreement. If the request is not submitted in advance of the activity, funds could be denied.

1.6 If a member applies for credit for a course, (i.e. not to audit the course) they may claim from the Individual Bonus for that course, but not from both.

1.7 The FCTA Pro D Chair shall maintain record of monies requested and spent, as well as the number of TTOC days used by members participating in individual professional activities. A copy of each school’s record can be provided to each school’s Pro D Rep and administrator by request.

1.8 When a school or part/all of the District choose their professional day and indicates that members are to choose their own professional activity for that date, every member is expected to participate in some professional activity on that date. The FCTA Pro D Chair will request that every FCTA member fill out Form 3 in advance, with a brief statement of the activity. This file will be kept in the office and is accessible to District staff at any time.

1.9 Teacher job exchange processing fees are a legitimate use of Pro D funds.

1.10 If a TTOC is only employed by the District, they can be paid to attend the District Pro D Day.

1.11 Under exceptional circumstance and after approval by the FCTA Pro D Chair, a sixth day may be approved.

2. Summer Pro D

2.1 Using their individual Pro D Fund, a teacher may attend a summer professional development activity if approved by 75% of their school teaching staff prior to June 10 or on the second Monday in June, whichever comes first. A teacher may, unless decided differently by a staff committee because of a required school activity, use a maximum of 5 days during the summer for Pro D but may only take 3 days in lieu during Pro D days the following school year.

2.2 A teacher new to the District, or a teacher transferred to another school within the District effective September 1, may attend the summer Pro D school activity organized by the school and thereby access the equivalent days in lieu.

2.3 If teachers have received approval under 2.1 and they are taking part as a group or department on behalf of their school, appropriate expenses may be charged to the school’s portion of the District Pro D Fund with the authorization of the school-based Pro D Committee.

3. Application for Professional Development Activities

3.1 Request for funds for individual Pro D, shall be made on the approved online form 10 days prior to the activity or a lesser time if so determined by the FCTA Pro D Chair. Funds could be denied if not submitted prior to the activity. This is to ensure that Pro D funds and TTOC days are available. For the purpose of this section, District staff  (TREC, ACE and District Education Office) shall be treated as one school staff.

3.2 Request for funds shall be submitted for approval to the FCTA Pro D Chair. If the activity is approved by the FCTA Pro D Chair, and requires a TTOC, then you must complete the LOA request on Atrieve.

4. Claims for Reimbursement

4.1 Claims shall be submitted online to the FCTA Pro D Chair within 60 days following the event. Claims not submitted within 60 days after the event could lead to the loss of funding and funds will be released for other members to use.

4.2 Claims must be supported by receipts for registration, accommodation and where possible, public transportation costs.

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1. Plans for school-based development must be presented in writing to the FCTA Pro D Chair a month or more before the event: (Form 2.2 and Form 2.3)
2.  Summer Pro D plans and budget must be submitted by June 10th (or the Monday following June 10th, if June 10th falls on a Saturday or Sunday) to be considered for funding. Plans should state (Form 2.2 and Form 2.3)
   – Schools, departments or teachers involved
   – Description of the event
   – Resource personnel involved
   – Estimated costs for honorarium, speaker’s costs, substitute costs, on-site costs or
   other appropriate expenses
3. Summer Pro D is considered school-based Pro D and costs are covered by the FCTA District Account. The school-based Professional Development Committee shall meet before May’s staff meeting to discuss options for Summer Pro D and bring ideas forward at the May staff
   meeting. At the May staff meeting, it is the time to discuss what options have been discussed with
   the administration and to open the floor for discussion from the staff. Proposed Summer Pro D events must meet the following criteria:
   – the events are approved by at least 75% of the school’s staff
   – the events are an appropriate charge by following Pro D Guidelines (Form 3)
   Costs to be covered may include:
   – speaker honorarium: this may include speakers from within the District
   – speaker expenses (mileage and meals at FCTA rates)
   – speaker TTOC costs (including presentation prep time – up to one day)
   – photocopying costs for the workshop
   – luncheon/snack costs to the maximum of the individual guidelines per FCTAparticipant
   – If a school staff decides to participate in a school staff development activity away from the school site, the school’s allotted money must be used first. No member may claim more than $180 from their individual Pro D account per year; it is understood that transportation will be pooled. 

   When a staff, working through the school-based Professional Development committee
   chooses an activity that the majority of the staff commits to attend then members
   should recognize the value and attend, providing it does not extend beyond the school
   year or regular school hours.

4. In the spring of the preceding school year, the District Professional Development Committee will decide on the date that the District-wide Pro D Day for that school year. If such a day is planned, then the Pro D Committee may request necessary funds from the FCTA. When a District-wide Pro-D day is planned, members of the Planning Committee may use additional Pro D days as needed/if available.
5. Subject to #3 above, at the beginning of each school year, the FCTA will transfer $6,400 from the General Account to the District School Professional Development Account. This money, plus 100% of any remaining surplus from the school-based Professional Development account from the previous year, will be divided equally among the schools. School-based Professional Development Committees are encouraged to work with other school-based Professional Development Committees in arranging professional development activities. Schools may pool part or all of their school-based funds.
6. Following any approved event under these guidelines, the school involved shall submit to the District Professional Development Committee, through the FCTA Pro D Chair, an itemized statement (Form 2.1) showing expenses incurred, with appropriate receipts attached. Whenever possible, requests for payment are to be to one source only.
7. The District Professional Development Committee shall coordinate the selection of the dates for all professional development activities within the school year. Dates shall be chosen so that dates can be approved and announced to parents/guardians by May 31st.
8. When the District Professional Development Committee or a group of school-based professional development committees choose a “district day” activity, members are expected to attend. If a member feels that this particular activity is not of value to them then they will choose an alternative and submit it in writing to the Assistant Superintendent.
9. When a teacher or a group of teachers request to organize or attend an activity that is being held during summer vacation, and approval is given by at least 75% of the staff, then the teachers may access their individual Pro D Fund and be granted days in lieu. (See Pro D Summary for details) Each school will submit a copy of Form 2.2, which indicates the date(s), a description of the event, and the teachers involved, to the Pro D Chair by June 10th or the following Monday if June 10th falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The Pro D Chair will compile a list of all summer Pro D activities and forward it to the Superintendent by June 30th. 
10. Days used for school-based Summer Professional Development may be taken as days in lieu (to a maximum of 3) at the teachers’ discretion, during Professional Development Days of the following school year, unless the staff has voted to hold an activity where attendance is required as in 2B, in such cases, the teacher will select an alternate date.
11. Before the last day of school, the FCTA Pro D Chair will indicate to each school’s Pro D Rep whether or not each school’s Summer Pro D event has been approved.
12. All school-based Professional Development claims for the current year must be submitted for payment before June 1st. This will allow us to determine the amount available for Summer Pro D.
13. A surplus, if any, shall be carried into the next school year’s District school-based
    Professional Development Fund.

 → Form 2.1 Online

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 → Form 2.2 Online

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 → Form 2.3 Online

 → PDF Download 

1. Attend monthly District Professional Committee meetings.
2. Meet with Superintendent and FCTA president in the Spring to discuss district-wide Pro D, Pro D
   dates for district calendar and any issues or concerns.
3. Attend BCTF zone workshops (Friday & Saturday).
4. Attend FCTA executive meetings and be prepared to give a Pro D report.
5. Daily check requests for Pro D funds and email responses.
6. Daily check for reimbursement requests and issue checks.
7. Keep a spreadsheet for accounting. Must be balanced monthly.
8. Approve Summer Pro D requests and send in proposals to District Office.
9. Send books in for auditing in July.
10. Send audited spreadsheet to District office so Pro D monies can be issued by the middle of October.
11. Respond to emails and phone calls about Pro D.

September

1. Teachers will vote on who will be Pro D rep for their school. Please inform your FCTA Pro D Chair.
2. Forward and circulate emails from Pro D Chair to your teachers about Pro D opportunities.
3. Keep the Pro D bulletin board in your staff room up to date.
4. At the first staff meeting in September, go over the procedures for reserving funds and asking for
   reimbursement.
5. Attend District Pro D Committee meeting to plan the District Day in April.

October

1. Attend Pro D meeting/training.
2. Encourage staff members to attend their PSA conferences. Request for funds.

November – June

1. Attend district committee meetings.
2. Discuss Pro D options at monthly staff meetings
3. Forward emails and post/display Pro D activities posters.

April/May

1. Start planning Summer Pro D with school committee or as a staff.

June

1. Submit budget for Summer Pro D by June 10th as per school-based guidelines.

July – August

1. Follow through with plans for Summer Pro D. This could include organizing speakers, venue,
   coffee, goodies and meals.
2. Submit bills after summer Pro D for reimbursements.