The Draft

PVUSD has a very unique method for filling teaching jobs. It's called “The Draft.” UPC would like all parents to understand “The Draft” and how teachers are moved from school to school.

What It Is

Each spring, PVUSD fills openings in teacher positions using a unique personnel practice called “the draft.”  This practice was developed in the late 1970s by then-Superintendent Jack Hunt ensure that qualified PVUSD teachers who request to fill a vacancy get the opportunity to do so over candidates from outside the district. 

Recently, the process has evolved to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the opening of new schools, “hard-to-fill” positions, and No Child Left Behind requirements for “highly qualified” teachers. The collaborative process has also brought changes to the Draft, including moving draft dates to earlier in the year and finalizing internal transfers based on seniority before the end of the school year rather than in July.

Each year, UPC is asked to provide one parent representative to join one teacher (PVEA), one principal (PVP), and one administrator (COA) to sit as the Draft Rules committee to adjudicate questions of the draft.

The Draft Process: How It Works
Pre-Draft Preparations by the District and Teachers

1. Based on projected enrollment and student-teacher ratio requirements, the district decides how many teachers to allocate to each school.
     a. When a school has more teachers than it is projected to need in the coming year, the teachers with the least seniority (based on date of hire) are “surplused” and must seek a new position through the first round of the draft.
      b. When a school has fewer teachers than it is projected to need, the principal declares vacancies for the draft.
      c. Principals may also identify a few positions that will be exempt from the draft and filled by “interview only.”

2. Teachers must provide copies of any changes or addition to their certification to the district personnel office by March 1 to ensure they are properly credentialed for positions they may seek.

Round I: The Surplus Draft
1. The district issues a list of all surplused teaching vacancies for the first round of the draft (which took place this year on March 29, 2005), and a list of all surplus round participants and their certifications.

2. Starting with the most senior surplused teacher, surplus teachers pick which position they want to fill from among the available vacancies.

3. Teachers may only pick positions for which they are qualified (e.g., K-8 certified elementary teachers must show qualifications -- ie., middle school endorsement -- to accept a middle school position).

4. Surplus teachers must be placed in a position by the end of the two phases of the Surplus Round.  If they are unhappy with their placement, they may go into the Voluntary Round.

Round II: The Voluntary Draft
1. The district issues a revised list of all teaching vacancies for the second round of the draft (which took place this year on April 12, 2005), and a list of all voluntary/leave of absence round participants.

2. Starting with the most senior teacher, teachers (including participants from the Surplus Round, teachers returning from leaves of absence, and teachers requesting a voluntary transfer) may pick which position they want to fill from the available vacancies.

3. As teachers “draft into” positions, they create new vacancies, which are added to the revised vacancy list (see below).

4. This continues until all teachers have selected a position or passed.

Post-Draft Follow-up
1. Positions not taken at the voluntary draft can go to interview. PVUSD teachers will be guaranteed an interview, but not necessarily the position.

2. Positions made vacant as a result of teachers taking a position through the draft will be put on the revised vacancy list and offered to surplus staff (based on district seniority and certification). Positions not needed for remaining surplus staff will be available for voluntary transfer after approximately May 15, 2005 (date changes yearly).

3.  If a position is taken but then vacated, the vacancy will be posted for five days, and interested teachers must follow specific rules to request the position.  If that vacant position is taken, then the vacancy created will be posted for five days.  This will continue for a total of four rounds of five days each before a position goes to interview.

4.  After May 15, 2005, all positions become interview only.