1 Administration Contract System

a) Reporting Structure:  The NCSSM President reports to the Board  of Trustees.  Other Senior Academic and Administrative Officers ( SAAOs) report to the President or Vice-Presidents. 

SAAOs are eligible for 3-year fixed term contracts after the first year of service.

The BOT sets compensation of the President.   The salaries of other SAAOs are set by the President with benefits following a schedule.

The NCSSM President/Chancellor will report directly to the UNC President. 

SAAO reporting relationships are maintained.

Phase out current fixed-term contracts at the end of the current terms.  Align SAAO policies to UNC Policy Manual 300.1, including employment at will provisions, within 3 years of transition date.

Continue compensation authority delegated from the BOG to the BOT.

2 EPA Faculty Contract System:

Series of fixed-term contracts of increasing length, beginning with one year and moving up to 10 years.

Faculty compensation is set using a Faculty Salary Schedule.   

On-going self, peer and administrative assessment. 

All faculty earn annual leave and sick days.  This includes 10 month & 11 month faculty. 

25% of faculty are Nationally Board Certified.  Compensation is given for NBC.

Hold employees harmless in transition.

Join efforts to recruit, develop and retain expert high school teachers in   a competitive, comprehensive employment system.

Maintain current contracting system, including compensation and leave structure until faculty transition questions are fully considered, such as:

1. What are current university expectations for teaching, research, assessment & evaluation, uniform title and salary structure across disciplines/departments and tenure?

2.  What  UNC provisions must the school align to and in what time-frame?

3.   Which approaches must be different for a residential and virtual high school program?

4. Can certification supplement continue?

3 Employee Appeals & Grievances:

NCSSM complies with all state personnel policies and mirrors many older UNC policies.

Request to create a 2-year work plan to prioritize and review current appellate review policies to either fully align to UNC Policy Manual 100.1 and 100.3 or to request temporary or permanent waivers.

4 SPA Employees:

NCSSM complies with all state policies.  No required changes identified.

Probationary period is currently 6 months and can be extended to 9 months. 

Delegated responsibility for classification and compensation will allow alignment to UNC salary structure.

Probationary periods can range from 3-9 months.  Employees might reach career status sooner.

Implement UNC Policy Manual 300.3 to ready the campus to assume delegated authority from the UNC President.

5 Benefits

Health Insurance: NCSSM provides the State Health Plan to eligible employees.

Retirement:  TSERS requires mandatory contributions and health care coverage continues after retirement.

Retirement: NCSSM employees retire “all at once” and must have a 6 month break in service before any  return to part-time service

NC FLEX “cafeteria” plan

A pending UNC Healthcare Initiative would provide more affordable coverage for dependents, access to primary care with lower out of pocket costs, more emphasis on wellness, and more opportunity to choose a plan that meets the needs of particular employees and their families.

UNC EPA employees choose between TSERS and the Optional Retirement Program, which offers four contribution options but no associated health coverage at retirement.

UNC has voluntary phased retirement program which allows ½ time service before retirement.

2.5% higher employer contributions to ORP requires funding.

Are faculty eligible if not tenured?

Are there different or additional cafeteria options?

1 Enabling Legislation of the School

The School is currently legislatively authorized as an independent state agency affiliated with the UNC system.  The school is not statutorily tied to the Department of Public Education.  This unique statutory position impacts virtually every aspect of the school in terms of operations, access to funds and services, and compliance.

Reestablish the school as a “constituent high school” of the UNC system.

Increase operational flexibility and efficiencies via legislative provisions already granted to UNC, e.g. purchasing benchmarks.

Detailed analysis has begun to identify all legislative opportunities and needs. The legislative package should be jointly drafted to preserve certain previously statutory functions of the BOT which intersect with federal and state law; identify exceptions to general UNC and constituent provisions; and set transition-related timeframes.

2 Statutory governance

Board of Trustees is enabled by Article 29 to exercise legislatively granted powers and duties.  Structure:  27 members, appointed by the BOG, General Assembly and Governor.  Operation:  The BOT meets quarterly to set policy and direction of the school and to approve certain employment decisions.  Historically, the BOT has voluntarily aligned to many BOG policies.

A more nimble, participatory group would continue to set campus-level policy within the umbrella policies of the BOG without “reinventing the wheel.” 

Access to UNC professional services can enhance staff development and programmatic growth of the school.

Align to Chapter IV of the UNC Code and amend the BOT By-Laws.  A transition plan should seek to maintain historical perspective, diversity, and skills of the BOT, possibly by using ex officio and honorary positions.

Request to create a 3-year work plan to prioritize and review each current NCSSM policy and BOG policy. 

3 Educational Advisory Committee

The EAC is a statutorily mandated body consisting of the State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction, the chair of the State Board of Education, and 10 scientists, mathematicians, public school representatives and other leaders appointed by the Board of Governors.  The EAC gives advice and counsel to the President and the BOT. 

Constituency will provide new expert partners to draw on for membership in the EAC.  Members’ efforts on behalf of NCSSM will be better supported by their employers.

The EAC will continue to serve an important generative role in the programmatic growth and direction of the school.  Retain the EAC in its current form.

4 Government Relations

NCSSM’s financial stability currently depends on informing a variety of lawmakers and policy makers about the impact the school has on their constituents.

NCSSM programs and projects will receive more support within UNC legislative and lobbying efforts.

Maintain strong relationships with lawmakers in General Assembly and policy makers in various departments in Raleigh.

5 Liability insurance

NCSSM falls under the NC Tort Claims Act, which limits governmental liability for certain torts.  NCSSM also carries optional commercial insurance coverage.

What, if any, insurance differences exist between the School and the UNC system? Are there any UNC-mandated coverages which might drive operational needs (rather than BOG policy)?