Series No.: PA-009

Partners: School District of Lee County (Fort Myers, Florida) Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, Florida)

Source: Jeff McCullers, Staff Development Center, School District of Lee County, 2055 Central Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida 33901.

PURPOSE
It is the intention of the School District of Lee County and Florida Gulf Coast University to establish a partnership to create eight professional development schools (including a minimum of one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school). This partnership will be dedicated to improving the quality of preservice and inservice teaching through the adoption and implementation of the principles of professional development schools and action research.. The School District of Lee County (through its schools and its Staff Development Center) and Florida Gulf Coast University (through its School of Education) will combine resources and provide leadership for the development of these schools.

DURATION AND TERMINATION
This agreement will be effective through December 31, 1999. This agreement may be terminated immediately at any time with the consent of both parties. This agreement may be terminated by either party without cause with 90 days advance written notice.

BORROWING AND LENDING
Borrowing and lending are encouraged between and among the institutions and the professional development schools. The borrowing party must adhere to the rules endorsed by the lending institution. Priority will always go to the members of the institution where materials and equipment are housed. Materials and equipment borrowed from an outside institution are "on call" and must be returned within 24 hours if requested by the lender.

FACILITIES
The facilities of each institution will made available to the other as is convenient, practical, and in conformity with the policies and practices which apply to each facility. Each instance of sharing will be individually arranged by the specific individuals involved. Priority will always go to the employees and clients of the owning institution. Neither institution makes any guarantee of availability for any facility to the other.

INTERNS
The School of Education agrees to prefer placement of teacher interns to the designated professional development schools, but retains complete jurisdiction over such placement. The School of Education makes no guarantees concerning placement.

The Staff Development Center agrees to facilitate the placement of interns in the designated professional development schools to the best of its ability. The Staff Development Center makes no guarantees concerning placement.

Both institutions affirm their desire to continuously improve the quality of preservice education through the active support of student interns in the professional development schools.

COOPERATING TEACHERS
The designation, compensation, training, supervision, and support of cooperating teachers will be negotiated between the institutions as necessary.

Both institutions affirm their desire to improve the quality of preservice education through the active support of the cooperating teachers in the professional development schools.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Public school employees, university Faculty, and students in field experiences are exposed to a great deal of confidential information. Both institutions agree to support the Florida Code of Ethics And The Principles Of Professional Conduct in their preservice and induction programs.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
A collaborative partnership between the School District of Lee County, and Florida Gulf Coast University to establish a practical public school environment for enhancing education. Through collaborative pre-service and inservice education, both institutions and their faculties benefit and are better able to provide an improved learning environment for children and professional education students.

INTERN
Florida Gulf Coast University student who is assigned to a cooperating teacher from the School District of Lee County and who is to be included in the workings of the daily classroom and school activities to as complete a degree as is appropriate, lawful, and professionally and educationally sound.

COOPERATING TEACHER
A professional teacher from the School District of Lee County who supervises the directed teaching experience of an intern during the student teaching experiences.

CONTACT PROFESSORS
Florida Gulf Coast University will provide the in-kind services of faculty members to all or some of the designated professional development schools. Florida Gulf Coast University will provide the in-kind services of at least four professors at a minimum of 20% of their time each. The times, dates, conditions, and availability of this in-kind service is the sole jurisdiction of the director of the School of Education, but the general expectation is that these contact professors will assist with professional development school activities, especially action research.

EVALUATION
Florida Gulf Coast University will oversee the evaluation of the Second Chance reading course as described in the 1998 Florida Academies For Excellence In Teaching grant renewal application, and guarantees the timely delivery of products relating to that evaluation. Both parties agree that $15,000.00 of 1998 grant funding will be set aside for consulting fees, materials, and supplies relating to this evaluation.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
The School District of Lee County will provide in-kind staff development training to Florida Gulf Coast University faculty members. The times, date, content, conditions, and availability of this in-kind training is the sole jurisdiction of the director of the Staff Development Center, but the general expectation is that training which will be of direct benefit to faculty members working with the designated professional development schools will be made available.

TEACHER-ON-ASSIGNMENT
The Staff Development Center agrees to house a teacher-on-assignment who will be an employee of the School District of Lee County, and whose salary and benefits will be paid entirely from grant funds. This teacher-on-assignment will provide 100% of time to coordinate professional development school activities.

GRANT FUNDING
Both institutions agree to seek grant funding to support professional development schools. In the event that such funding is awarded, the School District of Lee County will serve as the sole fiscal agent. In the event that such funding is not awarded and is no longer available, both institutions will consider supporting the professional development program using existing resources as is practical and appropriate, but no guarantee for such continued support is made by either party.

Both parties agree to abide by all grant provisions and requirements as described in the 1998 Florida Academies For Excellence In Teaching grant renewal application, including but not limited to copyright limitations, required statements on official documents concerning the source of funding, and the retention of Florida Department of Education ownership of property purchased with grant funds.

Florida Gulf Coast University, as a state agency, warrants and represents that it is self-funded for liability insurance, both public and property, with such protection being applicable to Florida Gulf Coast University officers, employees, servants, and agents while acting within the scope of their employment by Florida Gulf Coast University.

Florida Gulf Coast University and the School District of Lee County further agree that nothing contained herein shall be construed or interpreted as (1) denying to either party an remedy or defense available to such party under the laws of the State of Florida; or (2) the consent of the State of Florida or its agents and agencies to be sued.

Florida Gulf Coast University and the School District of Lee County further agree that nothing contained herein shall by construed as a waiver of sovereign immunity of the State of Florida beyond the waiver provided in Section 768.28, FL Statute (1985).

for Florida Gulf Coast University

Designated Officer __________________________
Date ______________

for The School District Of Lee County

Chairman of the District School Board ___________________
Date ____________

Superintendent ______________________________
Date _______________

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