To: OEA-represented Teachers and TSAs
From: Trish Gorham, President, OEA
Tara Gard, Interim Deputy Chief of Talent, Talent Division
Date: December 16, 2016
Re:
2017-2018 School Year Intent to Return / Voluntary Transfer Request
Greetings OEA Teachers!
We are poised to begin our teacher recruitment and placement for the 17-18 school year; as part of the continuing
effort to create the best possible learning conditions for our students and the best working conditions for our
employees, we ask at this time that you notify us of your intentions for the 2017-18 school year on the enclosed
‘Notification of Leave, Separation or Voluntary Transfer’ form.
This information helps us identify upcoming vacancies so we can match internal candidates with open positions and
recruit effectively from the outside.
For any changes you wish to make, you will complete the enclosed Early Notification Form. More information follows,
and we have also attached an FAQ.
INTENT TO RESIGN OR RETIRE FROM OUSD – early notification incentives!
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If you inform OUSD on or before Tuesday, January 17, 2017 of your intent to resign or retire you will receive a
$500.00 bonus at the end of the school year in token of our appreciation for your early notification.
If you notify OUSD on or before Wednesday, February 15, 2017 you will receive a $300.00 payment at the end of
the school year.
Please note, your health benefits remain in full force and effect through the end of August 2017, regardless of when
you inform us of your separation. Early identification of vacancies is critical to our ability to recruit and select highly
skilled teachers to work in service of the children we know you care about so deeply. Please help us do what’s best for
Oakland’s children by informing us early of your plans to separate.
ABOUT VOLUNTARY TRANSFER REQUESTS
Teachers who are interested in pursuing a Voluntary Transfer into another school community have two different options
for doing so:
1.
Request to permanently leave your current school site (relinquish return rights). You would participate in all phases
of the staffing process starting in January 2017 until you match at a new school site.
2.
Request to provisionally leave your current school site (retain return rights). You may explore your options during the
Phase 1 open hiring period of February – March 2017 and keep the option to return to your present position for next
year. At the end of this period if you are unplaced you would then have to decide to either accept your current position
for next year or relinquish it and continue with your search from among available opportunities in OUSD.
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IMPORTANT NOTES
If you intend to remain in your current position, at your current school site, you DO NOT need to respond to this
letter or take any further action.
If you are presently on Unpaid Leave of Absence, you DO need to complete and return the form.
We thank you in advance for your assistance; please accept our best wishes for a peaceful year-end and a
successful second half of the 16-17 school year for you and your students!
NOTIFICATION OF LEAVE, SEPARATION OR VOLUNTARY TRANSFER REQUEST for 2017-2018 School Year
Instructions and Important notes
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Please complete Sections 1, 2 and 3, and return by correct deadline to 1000 Broadway, suite 295, Oakland 94607 or via email to:
[email protected]
All communication regarding your 2017-18 assignment will be sent via your OUSD email address. If you need assistance activating
your OUSD email, contact [email protected]
Per CA ED Code sections 44930 and 44420, failure to notify OUSD of intention to resign before June 30 constitutes acceptance of
contract for 17-18 school year; late resignations may be subject to CTC notification and suspension of credential.
If you intend to remain in your current position, at your current school site, you do NOT need to complete and return this form.
SECTION 1 - Employee Information
Last Name:
First name:
Current Site:
Employee ID:
Current Assignment:
SECTION 2 - Notification of Intentions for 2017-18 (please select one red box)
 I am presently on Unpaid Leave of Absence and INTEND TO RETURN to my position in 2017-18.
(if you are on LOA and DO NOT intend to return, please select the applicable box below.)
 I am requesting an Unpaid Leave of Absence for the 2017-18 school year.
Reason for request:____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
 I am resigning/retiring from OUSD at the end of the 2016-17 school year.
Reason for resigning:
Other______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 I am requesting a Voluntary Transfer to another school site and RELINQUISHING rights to my present position. I will
participate in all phase of the 2017 hiring process.
 I am requesting a Voluntary Transfer to another school site and RETAINING rights to my present position. I will
remain at my current school site if I do not match with a new school community by the end of the first hiring phase
SECTION 3 - Signature and Acknowledgement
I hereby request the personnel action indicated above and acknowledge the submission deadlines below.
______________________________
Signature
_____________________________________________
Date
Submission Deadlines- please read carefully
Action
Deadline/description
Cash incentive
Voluntary Transfer Request .........Signed request MUST BE received by Talent on or before Friday, 1/13/17 to be honored .............. N/A
Early Separation Notice ...............Signed document received by Talent on or before Tuesday, 1/17/17 ...................................... $500.00
Early Separation Notice ...............Signed document received by Talent on or before Wednesday, 2/15/17 ................................. $300.00
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Separations submitted to Talent after Wednesday, 2/15/17 are NOT eligible for bonus
Signed document MUST be received by Talent on or before Friday prior to 6/30/17 or teacher contract
is in force for 2017-18
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – EARLY SEPARATION NOTIFICATION
Below are a few commonly asked questions about early separation; if you have further questions, please don’t
hesitate to contact OUSD’s Talent Division at 510- 879-0202.
Why does OUSD need to know so early that I’m leaving?
● The earlier the District knows of your intent to resign or retire, the sooner and more effectively
vacancies can be projected, and classroom assignments can be made for the coming year. This is
best for our students. We need to take full advantage of the entire hiring season, rather than
waiting until the summer to fill the majority of our vacancies.
● Earlier notification of assignments allows your colleagues to enjoy a stress-free summer, knowing
early where they will report for work in August.
What are the Early Notification Incentives?
If you inform OUSD early of your intent to resign or retire you are eligible for a bonus payment at the
end of the year in token of the district’s appreciation:
● Intent to Separate received on or before Tuesday, January 17, 2017 receives $500.00 bonus at the
end of the school year.
● Intent to Separate received on or before Wednesday, February 15, 2017 receives $300.00 bonus
at the end of the school year.
Does turning in the form now affect my retirement or leave accruals?
● NO! There is NO penalty for early notification. Your earnings (retirement, leave accruals, etc.) and
employment status do NOT change until your effective date, which you indicate on the form.
Resignations can also have effective dates in the future (e.g. June 20, 2017)
When do my benefits stop once I separate?
● The District will continue to provide health and other welfare benefits throughout the summer
months of July and August for OEA members who separate at the end of the school year,
regardless of when you tell us you are leaving. Telling us early in 2017 of your intent to separate at
the end of the school year will NOT impact your access to district paid health benefits through the
end of August.
I am retiring and have questions about the process. Who should I contact?
● California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) provides retirement, disability and survivor
benefits for California’s teachers. CalSTRS also offers workshops for their members to explain
your retirement benefit calculation, the application process and the steps to a successful CalSTRS
retirement. The CalSTRS Retirement Check-Up workshop is offered at the following East Bay
locations. You MUST contact CalSTRS directly to attend the workshops at www.calstrs.com :
● Dec 19, 2016 1:00 p.m.: Pleasant Hill, CA (1:00 pm)
● Jan 26, 2017 3:45 p.m: Dublin, CA (3:45 p.m pm)
● Feb 9, 2017 : Dublin, CA ( 3:45 pm)
● Feb 23, 2017 : Pleasant Hill, CA (4:00 pm)
The Talent Division is always available for assistance. Please contact the Staffing Team at (510) 879-0202.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – VOLUNTARY TRANSFER
Below are a few commonly asked questions about the Voluntary Transfer process; if you have further questions,
please don’t hesitate to contact OUSD’s Talent Division at 510-879-0202.
What is a “voluntary transfer”?
In accordance with the Oakland Education Association contract with Oakland Unified School District,
eligible certificated personnel may request consideration for reassignment once a year during the voluntary
transfer period.
What is the Voluntary Transfer Period?
The Voluntary Transfer Period starts with Phase 1 of the Hiring Season, which is the end of January.
Teachers who elect to relinquish their positions may continue searching for a new placement through the
entire hiring period. Teacher who retain rights to their positions may search only until the end of Phase 1
(about 5 weeks) and then must decide either to return to their current placement for 17-18 or relinquish
their position and keep searching through the rest of the hiring season until placed.
Do I have automatic voluntary transfer rights under our current contract?
No, teachers may request a voluntary transfer, but OUSD must approve the request.
How will I find out about transfer opportunities?
You should carefully review the postings of open 17-18 positions that will come out with the start of Phase
1. A link to the postings will also be distributed to all certificated employees via OUSD email.
What do I do if I want to request a voluntary transfer?
You should complete and submit the ‘Early Notification of Leave, Separation or Voluntary Transfer Request’
form by the deadline, January 13, 2017. Late requests for transfer will not be honored. You should keep a
copy for yourself. When the Talent Division has been notified of your request to transfer you will receive
instructions regarding the next steps in the process. We will remain in close conversation with you
throughout the process.
Should I tell my School Leader that I am requesting a transfer?
Yes, you should inform your School Leader of your interest in transferring from your school site.
Additionally, Talent Division will notify your School Leader upon receipt of the ‘Early Notification of Leave,
Separation or Voluntary Transfer Request’ form.
If I have not been offered a contract for school year 2017-18, may I participate in the voluntary transfer
process?
No. Those employees who will not be under contract for the 2017-18 school year cannot take part in the
voluntary transfer process. You may apply for any positions open for external hiring in the Spring.
Are there any restrictions in the number of positions I may apply to for consideration?
No. Employees are not limited to the number of positions to which they can apply.
If I am certified in multiple areas, may I apply for positions outside of my current teaching assignment?
Yes. You may apply for any position for which you have the appropriate credential.
Can I rescind my request for transfer after accepting a position?
No. After a Principal has selected you for a position, you will receive an offer for the new assignment. If
you accept the new assignment, you will be expected to honor the commitment. Once you have accepted
a position, all other applications you have placed with other schools will also be deactivated and no other
offers will be made to you. However, the Talent Division reserves the right to administratively transfer any
employee based on the needs of the school district.