Certificated Handbook - Chula Vista Elementary School District

Working Conditions at the School Site: Substitutes are responsible for maintaining attendance records for
their class in accordance with the directions given by the school principal. The record of pupil attendance is
very important and must be absolutely accurate.
Teachers take playground duty as scheduled by the principal. Each school has its own regulations regarding
play areas, so you should check in the teacher’s plan book or with the principal.
In the supervision of children, you should report any situation that may be dangerous or detrimental to the
health and welfare of the children (strangers on the playground, defective equipment, student behavior,
weapons, animals, drugs, etc). Your report should be made immediately to the principal. Your constant
moving presence among the children in the classroom or on the playground will help to insure proper behavior.
Avoid standing or sitting in one place. Your supervisory responsibilities continue until you are relieved or at the
school days end.
Fire drills are conducted at each school and your principal should apprise you of such drills he/she conducts.
Should you experience a fire drill, the aide or a responsible student may lead the class to a safe location via
the customary exit route or an alternate one if usual exit route is blocked. You must make certain that all pupils
have left the room before you. You must then close the classroom door behind you as you leave. As a safety
precaution pupils must maintain complete silence during the drill and you must take roll when safety is
reached; should a pupil be missing after roll call has been taken, notify the principal immediately.
Earthquake and other disaster drills are likely to be conducted while you are substituting, however, in the event
that such an incident should occur, give the command, “DUCK AND COVER”, as pupils have been trained to
take appropriate action on command. It is imperative that you become acquainted with all safety procedures at
your assigned site.
Please try to remain aware of physical conditions in the classroom (heat, light, air). In addition, we like to
maintain clean, attractive and well-kept classrooms at all times.
Retirement Systems: Federal legislation mandated Social Security coverage for all employees on January 1,
1992 unless they are covered by another retirement system, such as STRS or PARS.
On December 17, 1991 the Board of Education approved the Public Agency Retirement System (PARS) for
eligible employees.
You have a choice. You may either join State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) or PARS. STRS will
deduct 8% from your check and PARS will deduct 3.75% from your check.
Following is a brief description of the two retirement plans. If you do not make a choice you will automatically
be placed in PARS.
STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (STRS)
Teachers and other certificated employees of California Public Schools, kindergarten through community
college, are eligible to be members of STRS. Once you become a member, your membership will stay in
effect unless you terminate employment and receive a refund of the contributions in your account. If you are
no longer teaching but leave your contributions on deposit with STRS, you become an inactive member.
While a member of STRS you contribute 8% of your gross pay to the retirement fund. Your employer and the
State of California also contribute to the fund. The money in the fund is then invested to make your future
retirement income possible.
STRS operates as a “defined benefit plan”. This means that your retirement benefits are guaranteed by law.
The benefit formula is based on age, years of service and on average final salary.
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