The information below was sent in an email to all school social workers and psychologists in Oct. 2015 in regards to work time:

I have received numerous phone calls and inquiries regarding the work week schedule for social workers and psychologists. I also understand that there has also been some confusion regarding the number of parent-teacher conferences that social workers and psychologists are required to attend. These issues are clarified in the points outlined below. Please use them as a reference for the remainder of the school year.

• We continue to work our contractual time of 6 hours, 50 minutes, exclusive of lunch, five days a week strictly between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (3:45 p.m. in single-session schools). For example, a half-hour lunch with a work day starting at 8 a.m. results in the day ending at 3:20 p.m. Any time worked before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m. is not part of our contractual work time. The only exception to this rule is in the event that a school psychologist or social worker requests to start his or her work day before 8 a.m. on days necessary to ensure timely arrival at a per session site. We follow the customary time-keeping procedures that are used in the school being reported to. Clinicians are not required to punch in or out, with the exception of per-session work. 

• Teachers and paraprofessionals are working longer on some days but our work day ends at the usual time for us. When the teachers’ day is shorter, we do not leave early. We work our contractual time and leave at the end of our work day.

• Social workers and psychologists in single-session schools where everyone reports at the same time do not have to attend faculty conference and departmental meetings. In lieu of them, there are two additional parent-teacher conferences that we are required to attend (see below). This applies only to single-session schools and you should report to the payroll school with regard to these evenings. This does not apply to District 75 and District 79 schools or multi-session schools unless there was an SBO to repurpose time in the school day. • All school-based support team psychologists have 20 hours of per session available to them per year for case management. Supervisors should only approve scheduling requests, and preferences should not be unreasonably denied by your supervisor. 

• If you need to come in early or stay late, you can ask your supervisor to approve your per-session request. Please keep in mind that there is a DOE directive that states you should not work on SESIS outside your work hours unless you have been granted permission by your supervising administrators. If needed, ask your supervisor to approve work on SESIS outside your work day and to be paid for your time. If you work on SESIS without permission, you may not get paid for your time.

The parent-teacher conference evenings for single-session schools are as follows:

• September: We attend for the full three hours
• November: We attend for the first two hours and 10 minutes
• March: We attend for the full three hours
• May: We attend for the first two hours and 10 minutes

If you have any questions, please contact your UFT borough office and speak to a salary representative.