Philadelphia Federation of Teachers School District of Philadelphia

XV. Dispute Resolution
10. Failure at any step of this procedure to communicate the decision on a
grievance within the specified time limits shall permit the Federation to lodge
an appeal at the next step of this procedure.
11. The time limits specified in this procedure may be extended, in any specific
instance, by mutual agreement of the School District and the Federation.
12. Principals shall make arrangements to allow reasonable time without loss
of salary for Federation Building Representatives to investigate grievances. In
the event clarification is necessary as to what constitutes reasonable time, the
Executive Director of Human Resources, after consultation with the Federation,
shall make the final determination.
13. Second step hearings of disputes arising out of rostering and/or assignments
for the next school year have priority status and shall be heard as soon
after May 25 as possible and no later than July 10.
Article XVi
Long-Term Substitutes
A. eligibility for long-term Status
1. A per diem substitute employee shall become eligible for, and be deemed
to hold, long-term status and shall be assigned as a long-term substitute in the
position he/she holds, when he/she has:
(a) Served at least twenty (20) consecutive days in a position likely to exist
for three (3) months or more; and
(b) Received a rating of “satisfactory” from the Principal during twenty (20)
days of per diem service.
2. If an employee once designated a long-term substitute is assigned to a
position likely to exist for three (3) months or more, such long-term substitute
shall not be required again to fulfill the other requirements of A1(a) and Al(b)
above. This provision does not apply to Professional/Technical Employees.
B. Assignment and replacement
1. Preference for known long-term vacancies by seniority will be given to
long-term substitutes who have shown competence in the subject to be taught
or area of assignment and who have not been recommended for dismissal in
prior assignments. This provision does not apply to Comprehensive Early
Learning Center and Professional/Technical Employees.
2. A long-term substitute shall not be displaced from a particular assignment
except for cause as defined in Section 514 of the School Code, or because of the
return of the teacher for whom he/she is substituting, or because of the position
being filled by the appointment of a regular teacher. In either of the latter two
(2) cases, the long-term substitute shall be given preference in assignment to
other vacant long-term posts. This provision does not apply to Paraprofessionals,
Food Service Managers and Professional/Technical Employees.
3. Whenever possible, a long-term substitute must be given two (2) weeks
notice before he/she is replaced by an appointed employee.
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