Lexington County schools are having to rearrange their schedules in response to a new state law.

The law requires that elementary and special education teachers get a 30-minute break each day without school duties, which the law refers to as “unencumbered time.”

All public school districts, including the five that touch Lexington County, must adopt an unencumbered time policy by June 1, with many districts having already begun the readings to implement this new policy.

According to documents provided by Lexington County School Districts 1 and 3 and Lexington-Richland School District 5, “unencumbered time” is defined as 30 minutes during a regular work day during which teachers are afforded time that is self-directed with no assigned duties or responsibilities, including the direct instruction or supervision of students.

“It's sort of a shame, though, that we have to come up with a law to give teachers 30 minutes of unencumbered time,” District 5 Board Member Mike Satterfield said when the body voted to approve the new policy. “But that's just the demands of a teacher nowadays”

The documents state that activities like parent/teacher conferences, bus duties, team meetings and managing or supervising the transition of students are off limits for teachers during unencumbered time.

While this policy is being implemented, superintendents of the districts will provide guidance to school principals to ensure that the procedures and schedules for the unencumbered time are established.      

“One of the things about this model policy is it does not require every building to accomplish this in the same way.” said Tamara Turner, chief human resources officer for District 5.

The documents mention that the placement of the 30 minutes during the work day may vary, with the time being determined by the principals of individual schools based on staffing and scheduling needs. 

Principals are unable to reduce or withhold eligible teachers time on a regular basis, only when it is reasonable and necessary due to extreme and unavoidable circumstances.

“One of the complicating factors is making sure that we have enough staff to supervise students and keep them safe and learning all day.” said Mary Gaskins, chief academic officer for Lexington County School District 1.