Cobb County School District
Human Resources
Reassignment
Questions and Answers for Teachers
1. What does the term “reassignee” mean?
A reassignee is a teacher who is assigned from one CCSD school to another
involuntarily.
2. Why would a teacher be reassigned?
Generally, reassignment becomes necessary when attendance zones for students
change, a new program is added to a school or a current program is discontinued,
student enrollment changes, teacher allotments increase or decrease, new schools
open or current schools close. All of these events may require a shift in teachers to
accommodate student needs.
3. How are teachers assigned?
a. Schools receive teacher allotments.
b. The principal decides the number of classes needed to best accommodate the
needs of regular education students and special education students.
c. The principal reviews the certification of the present regular education staff and
the present special education staff.
d. The principal fills all education vacancies from the present education staff where
certification is appropriate. This may be modified if budget constraints dictate.
4. How does a principal determine which teachers will be affected by these changes?
The principal first determines which area is affected and then which teacher is
affected. Notice that it differs for elementary, middle and high schools.
The affected area for certified employees is determined as follows:
A. Special Education (K-12) (i.e. learning disabled, behavior disordered) by
program.
B. High School (i.e. math 6-12, biology 6-12) by certification field.
C. Middle School:
(1) Spring (End of School Year):
At the end of the school year, employees shall be identified by:
(a) Area (i.e., PE, Art, Connections classes such as Art, FACS, etc.); or
(b) Identified subject area (i.e. social studies, reading, mathematics, science, etc.) Certifications must be appropriate.
(2) Fall (After School Year Begins):
After the first day students report, employees shall be identified by:
(a) Area (i.e., PE, Art, Connections classes such as Art, FACS, etc.); and then by
(b) Grade level (6th, 7th or 8th) first.); and then by
(c) Identified subject area (i.e. social studies, reading, mathematics, science, etc.) Certifications must be appropriate.
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Cobb County School District
Human Resources
D. Elementary School:
(1) Spring (End of School Year): by Primary (Grades K-3) and Intermediate (Grades
4-5) inclusive of the Early Intervention Program (EIP) before the first day students
report.
(2) Fall (After School Year Begins): Elementary School by Grade (i.e. 3rd, 5th)
inclusive of the Early Intervention Program (EIP) beginning the first day students
report.
5. What is the next step in the reassignment process?
The principal will make a list of all certified employees in the affected area and will
contact the appropriate hiring supervisor in Human Resources to secure the Cobb
County School District hire date. The teacher with the least Cobb County School
system seniority will be the reassignee.
6. How is seniority determined in the Cobb County School District?
Seniority is determined by hire date in Cobb County as a certified teacher with no
break in service. Hire date is the effective start date in the employee’s current,
regular position excluding the three orientation days, if applicable.
7. What constitutes a break in service?
If a teacher resigns or retires and then is rehired, the teacher has had a break in service
and seniority begins with the rehire date.
8. Does half-day status or certificate type affect seniority?
No. Half-day status does not affect seniority.
9. Do supplemented positions affect seniority?
Yes. Teachers who receive an approved Cobb County supplement for additional
duties and activities are protected from reassignment (i.e. coaching positions, math
team, yearbook, etc.).
10. If a teacher is on a Professional Development Plan, might he/she be subject to
reassignment?
Yes. A teacher on a PDP is eligible for reassignment.
11. How is seniority established within a Foreign Language Department?
Seniority is established by language, supplement status and CCSD hire date.
12. Is it possible for a reassignee to return to his/her previous school?
Yes. If a vacancy opens at the original school up to five days before the first day new
teachers report, the principal of the original school must notify the reassignee and
offer him/her the opportunity to return. The reassignee has 24 hours to decide and
then the placement is final.
13. Could a transfer to a school become a reassignee?
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Cobb County School District
Human Resources
Yes. Once a transferee moves to the new school, he/she may be subject to
reassignment for the first 96 days of the semester due to loss of program or a decrease
in student enrollment in the affected area at the new school. This prevents a newly
transferred teacher with more system seniority from displacing a teacher currently on
staff.
14. Could a reassignee return to his/her previous school for the next academic year?
Possibly. A reassignee may apply for a transfer to the former school or any other
school but would not be guaranteed placement at any school.
15. Who should a teacher contact for clarification about his/her particular situation?
Talk to your principal first. If further details are needed, email the appropriate
Human Resources Supervisor: Elementary: Vicki Piedmont, Middle & High Mike
Anderson & Paula Smith. Special Education: Laura Martin.
16. What happens if all members of an affected area receive a supplement?
The sequence of reassignment would then be the teacher in that affected area with the
least school system seniority.
17. What happens in the case of music (band, orchestra, chorus)?
The assistant in the affected area will be considered for reassignment before the
director of the program. The assistant with the least school system seniority will be
the reassignee.
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