Career Ladder Program

Click for Career Ladder Application

A. Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree: Employees can receive up to 12 credit hours of paid tuition per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) at the current State University or New York or Community College tuition rates. The District covers only tuition. Any associated fees, grades that fall below the contractual agreement, dropped courses that incurr charges and text books are the employees’ responsibility.

The total cost to the district for Units 6 and 9 cannot exceed $10,000 per unit, per year and Unit 11 cannot exceed $15,000 per year.

B. The District will pay tuition costs directly to the college/university as long as the employee maintains a B average for graduate courses or a C average for Units 6, 8, 10 & 11 for undergraduate courses.  Unit 9 must maintain a B average for graduate courses and undergraduate courses.

If a B/C average is not maintained the employee must reimburse the District the amount the District paid the college for that course or pay for his/her next college course. If the employee maintains the appropriate B/C average on a subsequent course he/she must submit the transcript and receipt for the course to the Career Ladder Coordinator for reimbursement at the SUNY or community college rate. The employee will be eligible to have future tuition costs billed directly to the District upon completion of either process.

C. To remain eligible for the Career Ladder the employee must submit final grades for each course to the Career Ladder program.

D. Procedure: Direct Pay: The Employee must complete the Application for Approval of Direct Pay and submit it to the Career Ladder Coordinator for approval. If approved, he/she will be given a letter to the Bursar (a voucher) that must be submitted to the college. The College/University will then bill the District directly.

Reimbursement: The District will reimburse full time employees tuition cost at any accredited college or university up to the SUNY rate. The employee must submit an Application for Reimbursement, transcript with final grade of at least B for graduate or C for undergraduate courses (B for Unit 9 employees), and proof of your payment receipt.

E. If you transfer into a bargaining unit not eligible for career ladder benefits or you are no longer employed by the SCSD before the class begins, the SCSD will not be responsible for tuition.

Sabbatical Leave

Sabbaticals are available for those members of Unit 8 and 10 for whom it is necessary to take a leave to complete an education program. Applicants requesting a sabbatical must have at least three years of continuous service in unit 8 or 10 and be in good standing in personnel.

• The district will direct-pay tuition up to 15 credit hours (graduate or undergraduate) per semester at the current SUNY rate.

• There are six full time sabbaticals available for unit 8 members and three full time sabbaticals for unit 10. If there are more applicants than sabbaticals available the more senior applicants will have preference.

• There are three sabbatical leave options which are outlined in the Units 8 and 10 contracts:

  1. Full year at full pay and benefits. If this option is chosen, the employee is required to work the equivalent of twenty (20) weeks of full time assigned work. Six (6) week must occur prior to sabbatical leave (time to be negotiated between employee and district). A letter outlining your half-time work arrangement, signed by your supervisor, must be submitted prior to sabbatical leave.

  2. Full semester (5 months) with full pay and benefits. If this option is chosen there will be no work obligation during sabbatical leave.

  3. Full year at half-pay and benefits, no work obligation. If this option is chosen there will be no work obligation during sabbatical leave.

• Employees who have received a sabbatical leave must work a minimum of five (5) school years for the District subsequent to the leave. If the employee is capable of, but does not wish to continue employment in the District for the five year period, the employee must reimburse the District for all salary paid during the sabbatical leave.

• If the employee receives a verified job offer from another employer and is not offered a position by the District for which they have taken the sabbatical, the employee will be released from any salary reimbursement requirements.

Letters requesting sabbaticals must be submitted to Shirley Rowser, Recruitment & Selection at humanresources@scsd.us or fax 315-435-4163. Applications for consideration of Sabbatical Leave commencing for the fall semester must be submitted by March 31st. Applicants will be notified of approval by April 30th. Applications for the Spring semester leaves must be received by October 2nd and notification of applicants will occur by November 2nd.

Included with the sabbatical request should be the following:

1. Official letter from the college indicating:

   1. Acceptance in a district approved program leading to a degree

   2. Outline of courses to be completed

2. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate courses completed.

3. Letter of intent including purpose of leave (i.e. pursuing Masters in Education at S.U.), pay option you are choosing (see above), and acknowledgement of your five year employment obligation to the district.

4. School you are currently working and your current address and phone number.