Beginning with the 2014–15 winter sports season and continuing forward, the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) has lifted the four-hour cut in the number of sessions that coaches could be paid for, allowing coaches to claim the full number of sessions listed in the union contract for each sport.

The UFT fought hard for a restoration of time. Last fall, the UFT gained it, and the PSAL has authorized payments for coaches and other affected members.

Many coaches, as well as administrators in some schools — including athletic directors — are unaware of the restoration of hours. Coaches should now be able to put in their timesheets reflecting these hours and have them accepted.

Earning sick-bank time

Teachers who work as coaches and in other per-session activities earn Cumulative Absence Reserve (CAR) time for per-session work.

If a teacher works in the same per-session activity between September and June, that teacher accrues per-session sick leave hours after every 20 consecutive sessions worked.

For per-session athletic coaches, the hours at the end of 20 consecutive sessions (regardless of the number of hours in each session) add up to the total hours worked in the 20-session period. The total is then divided by 20 to arrive at the average length of a session for sick leave to be transferred. All other teachers earn one session of sick leave for every 20 sessions worked after 20 consecutive sessions.

At the end of the activity, the payroll secretary should fill out the Per Session Unused Sick Time Transfer Form documenting the accrued per-session sick time to be transferred to the member’s regular sick bank. This form is signed by the payroll secretary, the head of the activity and the member to certify the time is accurate. The member should keep a copy for his or her records.

Additional information on per-session rights can be found on the UFT website at http://bit.ly/1PmiBCG.