This section is strictly reserved for active, dues-paying members of the Association. Access is granted only to individuals who are registered on this site and verified by the ETA President. All content within this area is confidential and should not be shared outside the membership under any circumstances. Unauthorized access or distribution of this information is prohibited.
Week 1: August 6 - August 14
TOPIC 1: MEETINGS WITH DR. HOOVER
Q. Does the ETA President have monthly meetings with the Superintendent this year?
A. Yes. Dr. Hoover and your ETA President Lori Young will be meeting monthly. Meetings occur on Thursdays at 3 pm unless otherwise noted.
Meeting Schedule:
TOPIC 2: Dues
Q. Do you have any information about our dues?
A. Yes. This link has the information on it you are looking for.
TOPIC 3: Weekly Wrap-ups
Q. Is ETA President Lori Young planning to send out Weekly Wrap-ups?
A. Yes. Your ETA President is planning to send out Weekly Wrap-ups. She is planning to send them out on Thursday evenings unless circumstances prevent her from doing so.
TOPIC 4: Duty Free Time
Q. What does Indiana law say about daily duty free time?
A. Indiana Code 20-28-10-19 requires each teacher’s daily working schedule to include at least 30 minutes of duty-free time between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The law technically calls this “daily free time” rather than a “duty-free lunch.” In most schools, however, this protected time is provided during the teacher’s lunch period.
Q. What does “duty-free” mean?
A. “Duty-free” means just that—free of duties. You should not be assigned teaching, student supervision, meetings, class coverage, or other work responsibilities during this protected time.
Q. Is this 30-minute duty-free period the same as my lunch?
A. In most Indiana school corporations, yes. A teacher’s lunch period is typically when the legally required duty-free time is provided. What matters under Indiana law is that teachers receive at least 30 minutes free of duties between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Q. What if my duty-free time is interrupted by a student issue, meeting, or other responsibility?
A. If you are required to supervise students, attend a meeting, cover a class, or perform another assigned responsibility during your protected time, that time is no longer “free of duties.” Talk with your principal about how your schedule can be adjusted to ensure you receive the duty-free time required by Indiana law.
Q. Can my administrator assign me to cover a class during my duty-free time if we’re short-staffed?
A. Your legally protected duty-free time is supposed to be free of assigned duties. Routine staffing shortages, class coverage, meetings, or other responsibilities should not take the place of the duty-free time required by Indiana law.
PLEASE NOTE: ETA understands that a true emergency may occasionally require everyone to step in and help. However, routine staffing shortages or scheduling problems should not become “emergencies” that regularly interfere with a teacher’s legally protected duty-free time.
Q. My administrator asked if I would mind eating lunch from 9:45 a.m.–10:15 a.m. to make the building schedule work. I really don’t mind. Is that a problem?
A. Yes. While wanting to help make the building schedule work is understandable, 9:45–10:15 a.m. does not provide 30 minutes of duty-free time between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Only the 15 minutes from 10:00–10:15 fall within the time required by law.
This isn’t a protection an individual teacher should be asked to give up to make a building schedule work. The daily schedule should be arranged so every teacher receives the duty-free time required by Indiana law.
Q. What should I do if I’m not getting my legally protected duty-free time?
A. Start by talking directly with your principal. It may be a scheduling oversight that can be corrected quickly.
If the problem isn’t resolved, contact your building-level Association Representative. Your AR can follow up with the principal and, if necessary, contact ETA President Lori Young for assistance.
Before ETA contacts EVSC Human Resources, Lori will check in with you and your AR to make sure the appropriate building-level steps have been taken and to gather the information needed to address the concern.
Remember: Indiana law requires at least 30 minutes of duty-free time between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. each day. This protection applies to every teacher.
TOPIC 5: Planning Period
Q. Are Indiana teachers guaranteed a daily personal planning period?
A. No. Indiana law does not currently guarantee teachers a daily personal planning period. In 2011, the Indiana General Assembly removed the statutory protection for teacher planning time. Today, whether teachers receive a personal planning period—and how that time may be scheduled or used—is generally determined at the local level.