Professional Review Panel
Overview
The Professional Review Panel is one of the most important safeguards in ProComp. The panel is comprised of equal numbers of teachers and administrators who hear disputes about pay for any element of ProComp.
The Review Panel will hear disputes about pay decisions such as those on student growth objectives, professional development units, professional evaluation, market incentives, advanced degrees, licenses and certificates, tuition reimbursement, initial salary placement and declaration of a proposed assignment.
Structure of Panel
The ProComp Agreement calls for trained panel of five teachers/ student services professionals (SSPs) and five administrators. From March through August 2006, the Professional Review Panel Work Group will hear any disputes. The permanent panel is being appointed and trained by the ProComp Transition Team.
Permanent panel members will serve two-year terms. Initially, their terms will overlap to maintain consistency in practice and build capacity. For 2006, the terms will follow this schedule:
u One year terms for two teachers and two administrators (2006-07)
u Two year terms for three teachers and three administrators (2006-08)
Qualifications and Training
The Transition Team is seeking volunteers to serve on the professional review panel with the following qualifications:
u Training and recent experience in mediation, problem-solving and research
u Working knowledge of the DCTA Master Agreement
u Working knowledge of the ProComp Agreement
Panel members also will receive training, jointly developed by DPS and DCTA and approved by the Transition Team, on mediation and problem-solving skills, as well as details on the ProComp system.
Responsibilities of Panel
Professional Review Panel members are available for hearings to review requests and supporting documentation from teachers/SSPs appealing a pay decision.
Each Professional Review Panel member works with a fellow panel member to reach consensus on a decision to uphold or overturn a ProComp element pay decision. They use the payment rules defined in the ProComp agreement articles and the approved documentation of policies, processes and procedures adopted by the Transition Team.
Procedures and Timelines to Resolve a Dispute
The educator has 20 days after receiving a pay form to initiate the review process.
Key steps in the 20-day process are:
1. Educators should attempt to resolve the dispute at the lowest level with the principal or supervisor or appropriate human resources director.
2. If that is not successful, the appeal is reviewed by one teacher and one administrator chosen randomly from the 10-member panel.
3. Following a hearing where both the teacher and the decision-making administrator present the facts of their dispute, the two panelists shall consider the merits of the disagreement.
4. If the two panelists can reach consensus on action to be taken, they will issue a decision, which shall be implemented.
5. If no consensus is reached, the original pay decision stands.
Forms to request a hearing are included in Section 11 of this handbook
Professional Review Panel Work Group
The review panel work group will function as an interim panel to hear and resolve disputes that may occur from February through August 2006.
The work group is co-chaired by Transition Team members Connie White and Shirley Scott and Human Resources Director Bart Muller. Members appointed by DCTA, in addition to Connie White, include: Rich Nass, Marcia Cornejo and Essie Lyle.
Five principals serve as work group members, as well as student services managers and five teachers/SSPs. There are also two resource persons in the work group, one from the Payroll Business Service Center and one from DoTS. In 2006-2007, new work group members will be sought. Interested people should contact either Shirley Scott (720-423-3626) or Connie White (720-423-3539).