QUOLKE’S CORNER #41
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMS (SST)
Many people have already heard that each school will have a Student Support Team (SST). This SST will be comprised of the school principal, a teacher, and a school support person (school psychologist, school social worker, or guidance counselor). The goal of the SST is to provide wrap-around services for all children attending a school. This can include dealing with homelessness, dealing with family issues, special education referrals, etc. This Team is taking the place of the IBA process. Last week at the CEO Seminar, the principals were briefed on the SST, its concept and procedures. This Thursday at the CTU Delegate Assembly all Chapter Chairs and Delegates will be briefed on the SST, its concept and procedures. At each school’s October Faculty Meeting the principal and chair will present this information to their staffs. Any teacher who would like to be the teacher representative on the SST needs to apply in writing to the principal and the chapter chair. The principal and the chapter chair will then collaboratively select the teacher representative. In the K-8 buildings, this teacher will be scheduled one less class per week and the SST will be considered a teaching assignment. An example would be 27 classes per week instead of 28. This number would be prorated for teachers having less than 28 assignments per week. In the high schools, the teacher would either teach one less class on one day during a week, or have the option of no homeroom. In both K-8 and high schools, the SST would meet once per week for 45 minutes. This meeting time would be the same for the entire school year. If a teacher is needed during a planning time or lunch, and the teacher agrees, the teacher will be compensated one class coverage for each planning period or lunch missed. If the teacher is needed after school, and the teacher agrees, the teacher will be compensated at the inservice instructor rate. Any part of an hour is considered one hour.
SST is one piece of a comprehensive plan that is a result of the AIR report that was commissioned after the tragedy at SuccessTech. Although IBA was working well in many schools it was not effective in all schools. The hope is that SST will be a success in all schools and help a greater number of students.
In Union,
David