Salary Schedule Placement and Adjustment.

1. Each teacher shall be placed on the proper column and step of the salary schedule as determined by his/her academic training and experience. In order to qualify for horizontal movement subsequent to initial placement on the salary schedule, a teacher must have accumulated appropriate additional credit in semester hours after the date of the degree from which horizontal movement is claimed. The accumulated hours must be earned in courses in the teacher’s area of certification or working toward a new area of certification or any course related to the teacher’s teaching or supplemental assignment. Credit hours not meeting the criteria must be approved by the Superintendent.

2. To qualify for a "year of service" a teacher must be employed and in pay status for at least 120 days under a teacher’s contract in any one school district, with each day consisting of at least three and three quarters (3-3/4) hours.

3. Credit for salary schedule placement will be graduate level courses. Exceptions for undergraduate courses may be approved by the Superintendent if such courses are taken to attain Highly Qualified Teacher status or to achieve new or expanded areas of certification/licensure determined by the administration to be of immediate benefit to the District. Undergraduate technology courses with application to the teacher’s area of assignment may be submitted for consideration and approval by the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall not refuse approval of undergraduate courses for arbitrary, capricious or discriminatory reasons and shall advise the WTA president of any such refusal.

4. Teachers may request the Superintendent to determine acceptability of credit hours prior to the teacher beginning such courses. Credit shall not be recognized for courses or degrees from professional schools such as medicine, law, etc. or to qualify for a different profession, such as real estate sales, unless they meet the above criteria.