By-Laws

Purpose

The purpose of the LPDC is to foster collegial dialog, encourage professional staff development and to review IPDPs completed by educators within the Vandalia-Butler City School District for their renewal of certificates or licenses.

Background

The Professional or Associate License Renewal Law ISB 230, effective September 1998, changed the credential renewal process for all Ohio teachers. The intent of the law is to professionalize the renewal process itself and to require a much closer connection between renewal activities and classroom practice. Therefore, the new law established a local licensure board and expanded the definition of acceptable credits toward license/certificate renewal, making it possible to receive credit for professional development activities that are designed and conducted within the working, collegial environment of the school district.

Standards for Renewing a License

Requirements for renewing licensure are outlined in ORC 3301-24-08. These include 6 semester hours of graduate credit, 18 CEUs, or other activities approved by the LPDC. 6 graduate semester hours should be the guideline when working toward LEUs (For professional renewal 12 graduate semester hours or 36 CEUs should be the guideline). All educators renewing a license are required to submit a 5-year professional development plan to their LPDC. Professional development plans must be submitted to the LPDC and follow all guidelines established by the LPDC.

An accredited college or university is one that has been approved for the preparation of teachers, administrators, and school employees in pupil personal services by the State Board of Education.

CEUs are defined as ten contact hours in a professional development program approved by the LPDC. The LPDC will have the responsibility of assigning CEUs/LEUs to proposed seminars, workshops, professional activities, etc. The State Department will no longer be a CEU provider.

"Other" professional development activities that adhere to the guidelines set forth by the LPDC can be used for the renewal of a license. These activities are not specific in nature but must relate to increasing student achievement, district goals, and/or professional growth (See Appendix A).

 Governance

The Vandalia-Butler LPDC policy, procedures, and governance shall not supersede the negotiated agreement or district policy.

Committee Membership

There will be a minimum of one representative per building. Representation will be based on a ratio of 25:1 or major fraction thereof. Representatives will be eligible members of the VBEA bargaining unit. Administrative representation will be comprised of a minimum of one building administrator and one central office administrator.

Committee Representatives

The building representative(s) must be submitted to the Association by April 30^th in a year a vacancy occurs. If there are multiple committee candidates, an election will be held in those buildings by May 31^st. If there are no candidates, the Association will appoint someone to fill the position by May 31^st. The Superintendent or designee will appoint administrative members.

Vacancies

Should non-administrative vacancies occur the previously stated process would fill them. If there are no candidates, the position will be filled by appointment of the Association. The Superintendent will appoint administrative vacancies.

Term

All terms will be three (3) years.  There will be no limit to the number of terms a member can serve.  (changed 10/17/02)

Duties

 LPDC members are responsible for keeping up to date files for each licensure/certificate renewal candidate in their building which will include copies of the following as supplied by teachers.  

a)           Application

b)           Documentation

c)           Evidence

d)           Midpoint checks

e)           Final report applicants plan

f)             All correspondence from the committee to the individual

g)           Transcripts

Committee members shall:  

a)     Attend scheduled meetings, contacting the committee chair to be excused and bringing special circumstances regarding attendance to the committee for discussion (more than 2 missed meetings will require a meeting with the chair and an administrative rep.)

b)     Provide information on the licensure process and answer building/staff questions.

c)      Send notification to those in their building regarding the status of their IPDP including expiration date and date of mid-plan review date.

d)     Review and vote on submitted IPDPs.

Release Time

Release time, as stated in the negotiated agreement, will be provided for committee members to attend special meetings regarding LPDC activities.

Stipend

Stipends will be provided annually for all non-administrative committee members as per the negotiated agreement.

Training 

Training for committee members will occur from June 1 to August 30.

Chairperson

The chairperson will be elected annually from the non-administrative members of the committee. The chairperson will be responsible for:

a)           Setting meeting dates, presiding over all meetings, preparing the agenda, and informing members of any changes in said meetings.

b)           Act as the initial contact person for any and all appeals.

c)           Act as a signatory for the date certification/licensure.

d)           Initiate the training process for all new committee members.

e)           Receive an increased stipend for additional duties.

  Secretary

The secretary will be elected annually from the non-administrative members of the committee. The secretary will be responsible for:

a)     Recording the minutes of the committee meetings and distribute copies to each committee member.

b)     Act as communication liaison responsible for all correspondence.

c)      Act as a signatory for state certification/licensure.

d)     Maintain an updated membership database.

e)     Receive an increased stipend for additional duties.

 Decision Making Process

The following are the steps the LPDC will take when reviewing an IPDP.

a)           IPDPs for each 5-year license/certificate renewal cycle will be submitted to the committee by October 15^th.

b)           The committee will review the plan.

1.      If approved, the committee will notify the individual of the approval following the next regularly scheduled meeting.

2.      If not approved, a meeting will be scheduled with an applicant and a LPDC rep. to discuss concerns and options.

3.      If the plan is approved on the second attempt, the individual will be notified.

4.      If the plan undergoes a second modification and is still not approved, the individual may make additional adjustments or initiate the appeals process as described below.

c)            The committee will assign each plan participant a mid-point review date.

d)           Mid-point evaluations will be held with each applicant, where changes, adjustments, and modifications may be made.

e)           Plans may be altered as needed at any time with the committee's approval.

An IPDP must be approved by 2/3 of the committee. Members of the committee who do not approve the plan shall meet and develop a dissenting opinion. The dissenting opinion will accompany the notification.

 Appeals Process

When an educator's license/certificate renewal is rejected by the LPDC after its second revision, the educator has the right to appeal the decision. The appeals panel will be comprised of licensed/certified educators: one chosen by the applicant, one chosen from the LPDC, and one chosen by mutual consent.

When filing an appeal, the following procedure will be followed:

1.      Notification of intent to appeal must be filed with the LPDC chairperson within 10 working days of the decision in question

2.      The LPDC will select their representative within 5 working days from the appeal notification date.

3.      The educator making the appeal will select their representative within 5 working days from the appeal notification date.

4.      The third member of the appeals committee will be chosen within 7 working days from the appeal notification.

After the appeals committee is in place, the chairperson will provide all committee members with necessary information and/or background to assist in the appeals process. 

The appeals panel and the applicant will meet within 10 working days after the committee is in place to review the plan in question. A majority vote will determine the outcome of the appeal.

Reciprocity

The Vandalia-Butler LPDC shall accept outside district-approved IPDPs for any educator hired by the BOE from another district as fulfilling all necessary requirements of the district's renewal process. Hours already accumulated in the district of the previous employment shall be honored. All cases are subject to committee review. The educator's IPDP will be requested as part of the application submission process and will be reviewed during the district interview.

 Amending the By-laws

The by-laws subcommittee of the LPDC shall meet annually to review the by-laws and recommend changes to the full committee by June of each year. Changes in the by-laws will not supersede the negotiated agreement.

The Vandalia-Butler City Schools BOE and VBEA will receive copies of ratified amendments. 

LPDC Ethical Commitment
 

The membership of the LPDC will agree to conduct all LPDC business so as to:

·         Impartially and consistently apply the licensure standards and guidelines.

·         Maintain confidentiality.

·         Communicate as a group or through the chairperson.

·         Maintain personal professional development in the foundations of teaching and learning in order to provide a basis for understanding IPDPs and the application of standards and guidelines.

·         Not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, or sexual orientation.

Breach of ethical commitment may result in removal from the LPDC.