HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1978-04-06, Page 3settlement of such complaints the decision of the Director of
Education, after consultation with the Workload Committee.
shall be final and binding,
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the Director
of Education does not render a decision within 30 days of being
made aware of the complaint, the complainant may invoke the
provisions of Articles 8'& 9.
lioard7Poliey Statement Re Workload ,
Within the limits imposed by the approved pupil/teacher
r- ratio, the .Board will strive to equalize the workload, in its
Guideline",
secondary schools through preparation of a "W orklad
By Mardi '1st each year the Director of Education will issue to
each secondary school principal, for use in preparing his
timetable, a ,"Workload Gilideline" which.
(1),
.
has been developed in co-operation with. representatives of
the teachers, Board, Headmasters' Association, and the senior
administration;
(2) 'takes into account; as 'ar as ssible, for each teacher
(a) the total number of studen ught
(b)„ the size of each class or section
(c) the nature-of the ,program offered in the department
(d) the number of lesson preparations ,and the amount of student
• work to be marked
(e) the level of' difficulty of the subject(s) . •
(I) the degree of involvementewith other school activities
(3) attempts to prevent' individual teachers from being
responsible for 'unusually large numbers _of students; and
. (4) provides reasonable amounts of non-teaching time for
administration,, preparation, marking and supervision.
(5) incorporates provision fer a teacher to request a reyiew of
his workload, through hierarchical stages, to the' Board. •
.LATEST TEACHER PROPOSAL
(a) Pupil Period ContactS (PPC's)
No teacher's PPC's shall exceed thc following guidelines:
Students taking Advanced Credits
(including typing and business Machines)
Students taking General Credits
(including other commercial•subjects)
Students takingeTechnieat Credits
(including Family Studies practical,
Special Education Acadernie'Se Remedial) -
Studentseaking SpecialEducetion Credits
(b) Average Class Size
No teacher's average class shall exceed the
•
following
1.55
180
140
100
guidelines: •
Advenced .
General .
30 students
25 stedente
Technical, 20 students
Special Education Practical . 15 students
THE HU N XPOSITOR, ?A!:IRI., 1970 —
eac •
1
Weethe parents of Huron County 'Secondary School students,
want to know what is'ues are so important that they are
depriving our teen-agers of their educatidii. We have asked that
the-contract proposals be printed along with last year's contract,
so that we may understand the problems causing the stalemate
in negotiations.
There are 2 items yet tie be -settled:• Teacher Workload; Sick
Leave Credit Gratuity. ,
Teacher workloa
arrived at. There does appear to be
some:irreeponeibility somewhere.
I'm not saying where.'
According to Oddliefson.
the resolution was approved, by
pounce to "assist" negotiations.
Warden Gerry •Ginn said the
people have. knOwn for sometime
that a "stand has to „ be takee
When people want More 'arid •Oo .
leSs." •
"This is a new era." said the
warden, "Changes are goirig, ,to
have to.: he made. .1 strongly
'commend the board.• It. is • a •
difficult but . necessary stand." .
.Board chairman R. J., Elliott.
was present - at the afternoon
session of county council, along
with trustee John ' Henderean,
Elliott declined to 'cout-tent on
the eitUation when invited by'
county" council. to speak. •
I'D RATHER HAVE MY TEETH BRUSHED THAN
DRILLED — That's probably what Stephen Ryan of
Dublin was thinking as he stood patiently with his
mouth 'open while Nancy McDougall, a dental
assistant from the Listowel Health Unit brushes his
teeth. The children wetT being assessed for physical
and ' developmental problems at pt. Patrick's
Separate School in Dublin on Friday.
CoUnty.lacicks:
Bof E on strike
- By a unanimous decision,
Huron County Council agreed on
Friday. to support a resolution
from Turriberry - Township to
support the position of the Huron
County board of Education in its
ciierent dispute with the
eecondary school'-teachers. • ,
The Turnherry resolution noted
-that in the past, the Huron Beard
. had 'beencritieized - for its .
• spending practices. The
resolution went on to. say ' that
• since t he. board enow apPears to
"desire -""fe curtail • their
spending"'. it. ;s important that
the county municipelitieS support
board memberk.
Bayfield Reeve' Ed" Oddliefson
said, "We arc all concerned
about what is Oce,urring: We all
'fee ll that some solution• could be
" . LAST YEAR'S CONTRACT
• • 1 The Board -shall endeavour to achieve the following •
guidelines. (a) Maximum Pupil Period Contacts (P.P.C.'s) (This
means the total number' of students a teacher sees in a day.)
Advanced t5 yearcourses)
General (4 year courses)
Technical
• Special Education
(b) Maximum Clash Size.
Advanced and Commercial (typing and.
husiness machines only) 30.stud'ents
General and Open (including other
Commercial subjects) 25-students
Technical, Home Economics practical.
and Special Education Academic 20 students
Special Education practical students
(c) Leeson Preparations.
The Board shall endeavour-to maintain an average of three
lesson preparations per cycle, per teacher.
(d) Assigned Tinie.
75% instructional, 25% preparation and marking.
(e) Appeals.
Where exceptions to the above guidelines exist on• September
30th, the teacher involved shall be made aware, by the principal,.
of the factors causing the exception. If the'teacher is 'not satisfied
with the expla.nation.theesheemAy_ appeal - to 'the Appeal and
Review 'Coromittee, •, • • •,
2. Branch Affiliate Membcrsthereafter called teachers) shall
not cover classes for other teachers who are absent except on as
emergency basis as determined by the principal. When any one
teacher has covered 6'elasees, the principal will inform the Beard .
and the teacher will be reimbursed in the amount paid to a
.qualified teacher. .• .
• LATEST BOARD. OFFER
'Delete the .Guidelines and 'Replace with the following:
(a) A Workload Committee comprised, of: • •
• one trustee-appOinted, by the Board;
one . teacher-appointed by:.. District 45 OSSTF • Executive
• COencil;
one, principal-appointed. by Huron ."CO. Secondary School
'Principals Association; e .
one senior. administrator'-appointede 'by. :the Director of.
Education . •
will Monitor the workload distribution and will submit reports
and/or recommend:106ns to the 'Director of Education in May
and October and, • where necessary, .through hint to the Board.
(b) Any teacher who feels that he has been treated'. unfairly in the
assigninentof ,workload May ,complain .. in. succession 'to his
Principal, Superintendent, and Director of Education:. In the
• -
(c) Lesson Preparations.
The Board ehall make every effort to maintain an average of .. • three lesson preparations per cycle per teacher.
(d) Assigned Time.'
• (i) The Board shall make every effort to have the maximum
teaching timetable load for a teacher (lot exceed 75% of his full
possible timetable.' (Note: The lunch period is. not to be
"`considered as part of the timetable.)
Example: 6 periods for a one-day 8 period cycle
Example: 6 periods for a ,..two-day 8 period cycle
(ii) The remainder of'the periods on a teacher's timetable shall
be designated as:
(a) administration,. or
(ii) preparation and marking .
Note: Administration periods and preparation and marking
periods may be reassigned by the principal ae...set forth in
(g)13.03
is understood 'that es of Septeinber 30 Api,he„eontra.ct,, ,
year, the number of teachers teaching in excess of 75% of a
full possible timetable shall not exceed the number doing so as
of that date in the previous contract year.
(e) Occasional Teaching.
Teachere -shall not cover classes for other members who ere'
absent except on an emergency basis as determined by the
principal,, A record of classes covered by each teachee widl_he
retaintelteedbythe"-prineiPal. When any one teacher has Covered 6
classes, the principal Will inform the Board and theeeacher will
be reimbursed in the amount paid per day tea qualified teacher.
(f) ''Workload Grievances. ,
(i)eNo grievance' on the- subject of workload may be initiated
prior to 'September 30 in any school year, • ,
(ii) Notwithstanding Article , 8 - Grievance Procedure, no
grievance shall be lodged by any teacher prier to Septepther
30,' 1978, in regard to any alleged violation .• .of 13:03
(iii) Notwithstanding Article 8' - GrieVance Procedure, no
grievance shall be lodged by a teacher in regard to any,alleged
violation of 13.03 (a) or 13.03 (b) unlees the alleged violation
encompasses both 13,03 and 13.03 (b)
(g.). Workload Committee , •
.
(i) A Workload Committee shall , be established' which shall
consist, of: • .e•
2 trustees appointed by the Board
,2 teachers appointed by the Branch Affiliate
2 principals' or vice-principals 'app'ointed by the .Headmasters'
Association •
'The Director of Education or his designate
. (ii) The Workload Committee shall monitor the•workload of
each-teacher and may make recommendations for changes in
such workloadVirough the Director of Education to the Board"
between May 1 and September 30 of each 'calendar year.
175
155
140
100
Something tosay
by Susan White, will appear next week
Cplunty disputes cost of
'Everybody likes 'the idea of
signs saying "Huron. Comity': at.
the '17 highway entrance.pointsee
the county. but there was, some .
dispMe over which budget should.' •
finance the cost of'such signs at
the March session of county
council Fridayin "Goderich.
The -development committee
chaired by . Reeve Bill Elston.;
Morris Township. recommended
• the . road committee-- install the
signs on all county roads "entering.
Huron, and pay the tab out el the
road .budget.
Stephen Township Deputy-
Reeve Ken Campbell, chairman' •
of the 'road committee. said he
was not opposed to the erection of
'the. signs, but felt the money
• couldebeebettereitilizedefor -tether
purposes' in the road budget. The
cost of the 17 two fopt by six foot •
signs has been estimated at $80
each. er about $1400, They are
expected to last about 13 years.
High schools
...-teccio 'tests
Welcome to Huron signs
. •
Rubella- Titre tests are
'encouraged in•Hurop County for
all Grade 12 and 13, feniale.
students, Huron County Council
learned on Friday at• the .r'egula'r
March session. This test
determines whether or not any
young woman has immunity to
German, measles, the disease
which if contacted during the
early days of pregnancy can cause
serious defects in the unborn
Child. •
Young women who are found to
have no immunity le the disease
can be vaccinated to ,prevent
diSaster from German measles
during any pregnhncies. Now.
after decieion of Huron County
Council. the vaccine will be made
availabl e to-allefematestudeeTe rn
their graduating year with the
cost to •be paid by the Huron
County Health Unit.
Board of health chairman.
Deputy-reeve Paul Steckle of
Stanley Townehip, told council
the vaccine is expertsiveeeen
doses for '$25. As well,. the
e--eine does not have a eepg shelf
' 7nd is not one that physicians
Armalfy stock.
"It is therefore inconvenient
and rather expensive for a
student found to 'require the
vaccine," said Mr. Steckle,
urged the vaccine be made
available by..the County.
'About 40-,50 students may
require the vaccine 'in "Fitiren*
("Minty per year. The annual cost
of about $125 to the county ienot
subsidizable by the province..
according to the' county's
development officer Spence
Cummings, •
Reeve Elston ppinted out that if
the signs were erected by the
.road committee, they would be
subsidized to as much as 50 per
cent through the road budget by
the' province: They would-e. be
strictly a county expense if the
cost "for the signs 'was borne by
the develppment committee. •
Ed• ' Oddliefson, 'reeve •of
Bayfield. was anxious that the
signs should: say "Welcome to
•Huron County". 'He wondered
'why the present "Weleome"
signs are being taken down.
Clinton Reeve Frank Cook. .said
when lie.•-wasetrentember , of thee ,
development 'committee.. the
signs were put up with the clear
understanding they would be
maintaieed by the committee..
Council accepted ... the
committee's recommendation for• .
the road committee to install and
pay for the signs, but opposed the
recommendation • for the
"Welcome to Huron" •signs to be
removed and not replaced as they
deteriorete e
. Reeve Elston said the 4-H signS
seen at four of the entrances in
the county arc being examined by .
4-H members, Those signs. that
arc still in good:condition, are
being painted and restored by the
-1-H members,
The regular Meeting of the
,Seaforth HarticetturalSociety will
be 'held in the Masonic Hall on
Wednesday evening April 12 at 8
p.m. Mr. 'George Blais will bethe
guest speaker.
The- •Reseelet meeting of the
Hospital Auxiliary will be held on
April 1l, 8 pail. in the Board
Room of the Hospital. Cord
Wright will show pictureS' of his
latest voyage to Scotland.
Everyone Welcoine.
Annual meeting of the Scaforth
Women's Institute will be held at
the home' of Mrs. Dale.
Tuesday evening April 1 Ith
8:15 p.m. Roll Call to be
answered with "Hints for good
shopping and the payment of
fees." Motto will be: The best-
inheritanee a parent can give his
children; a few minutes of his
tithe each day.neeports•from -all
„standing committees will be
given,Lunch committee will be
Mrs.' Doris Hugel; Mrs. R.M.
Scott; Mrs. Mayer and Mrs. K.
Campbell. •••
You're
invited
Dave credit :grattfity., Sick
s • .L4ST YEAR'S CONTRACT •
A teacher who has completed 12 years service , in Huron
. County' schools, atidewho is eligible for e pension under the •
provisions of the Teachers' Superannuation Act shallbe entitled
to the payment of :e grathity on termination •of employment.
• . . LATEST BOARD OFFER •
A teacher .who has completed :12 .nears service in Huron
•
THE PARENTS ASK •
1. How mans' teachers complained of overload in -working • conditions during the pasf2years? What was the maid problem'?
BOard .Answer: There were elm complaints received from
teachers regarding workingeemditions over •the last 2 years by
the Board or its administration.
TeachersAnswertelt-is-di•ffieultetheeelculate-theeexarterumber,
of .teachers who complained • to principals ..about working
conditions because so many variables apply in the case Of any
teacher's timetable. However, statistics in two areas may be
revealing: In the 1976-77. period, before any 'workload 'clause
existed, in the 'agreement. 76 teachers. (28%) taught' 7 periods
and would feel unfairly treated considering that 72% of 'the
teachers taught .6 periods. Alsoin 'that period 58 teachers (210/0)
had excessively- high Pupil Period Contacts and would feel .
unfairly treated'since 79"e had reasonable PPC's. In the period
of the 1977-78 school year 48 teachers (17%) worked 7 periods
and 51 'teachers. (18,6%) were over in their PPC's. These
teachers naturally felt unfairly treated since their workload was
in excess•of the guideline figures. Grievances•were lodges that
year to bring the situation to the attention of the Board.
2. Last year there was an Appeal and Review Committee.. We
heard it was inactive. Is. this. true and why.?
Board Answer: During the academic year 1976/77 there was
an .Appeal and Review' Committee. The Appeal and Review
Committee met once. It net to consider the grievance of a
teacher who quit teaching at age 37 and was claiming
-approximately $10.000 from the Board as' a retirement gratuity.
No other problems Were referred to it by the teachers.
Te sellers, Answer: Following the 1971 mass resignations both
parties thought an .Appeal and Review Committee was necessary
tO provide a forum fo,r discussion and head off confrontation
situations. This committee worked well from that time until June
1977. The committee had met previously in the 1976-7; .school
year and were able to resolve four problems amicably. It ceased
to operate when the committee was faced with a problem which
involved. differences ill basic philosophy. 7 --
3. How many classes are now over the guidelines suggested in
the 1976-77 contract? Do yonfeylethispeimber is serious enough
to prolong this strike?
• Board Answer: The. number of teachers in the county
(i) in excess of average class size of 30 - .3 ,
(ii) in excess of 180 PPC's • 1
(ii) in excess of 155 PPC's - 10
in excess of 140 PPC's - 0
in excess of 100 PPC's - 0
(iii) M excess 'of average class. size + PP( 's • 1 ,
Teacher Answer: The number of classes row over the
guidelines is no linger relevant because no cha iges could be
made at this point in the school year.., What is important is that
there be guidelines for the coming school year so that we do not
return to the great 'inequities whidh existed prior to our having
•
. Parents, you now have some faqts. You now have some
opinions, suggestions, or perhaps further questions. Write to
your Trustee 'or to Teachers Federation, Hotel Clinton, Clinton.
County schools shalrbe entitled to the payment' of a gratuity on '
termination of employment provided that he
(1) is eligible for a pension under the provisions of the
Teachers' Superannuation Act and has attained the age of .50
•
OR'
"(2). Fs inereecipt .of a pension under the provisions of the'
The ,-parehts. as k
workload prpteetion 'in 'the agreement. •
• .4. Why 'is the hoard so opposed to the class size, pupil period
'contact, etc, details, while the teachers are: so Opposed to a
workload committee. Could not.both proposals accomplish the
same aim? •, • • • •
Board Answer: • fhc Board is 'opposed' to fixed, inflexible
ebsolutes eTHeBoard is ale6 of tile opinion that thee and not the
teachers were elected to 'manage the school system of Huron
County through its administrators.. . • .
If . the teachers were to use the • committee Approach
objectively, thenehe continued high quality of education can he
Maintained. Unfortunately this Federation demand is really a
"job security" issue And little else. • -
Teacher Answer: The Board must giee its reasons fier opposing
werkloade guidelines. The teachers do not object•to a workload •
committee, but they see its -functions as monitoring rather than
establishingeguidelines: We feel that it is 'the Board's
responsibility to set down Workload guidelines so that all
teachers in the county will be treated in the same way. The
Board's most recent offer of a Board policy, (changeable .at any
time by them) offers 1, date of March 1 in each year for
establishing guidelines. in other worde no guidelines this year,-•
but maybe for next year; that is, for the school year beginning •
September 1979.
• • 5, In regard -to sick leave gratuity, the only difference
between the Board proposal and the teacher position is, the
addition of "has' attained the age of 50 years". Why is this' point
so important? • •
Board Answer: The original intent of this clause was to be a
pay out for a retiring teacher, not a cash out provision.
Teacher Answer: A sick feaee credit gratuity established
udder the Education Act allows teachers to collect one-half of
their unused sick leave credits when they 16ve teaching.
Because they have not used their sick leve 'during their careers,
they have saved the Board the cost of supply teachers for those
days.. The' teachers feel that age fifty is unfair because it
penalizes a teacher who has devoted himself to Huron County
rather thee zoming- here to-complete-his eared'. 'E.g. a teacher
conies to Huron when he is 38 and teachers 12 years (required for
eligibility). he retires at 50 and collects 'his sick leave credit
gratuity. -Another teacher comes to Huron at age 23 and teaches
for this county for 26 years; he is only 49 and cannot' collect his
sick leave credits.
6. Do yOu favour the use of an arbitratoreo settle this dispute?
Why?
Boird Answer: No. We feel accountable to. the people in
Huron County to settle our hen problems.
Teacher Answer: Yes. Wie first suggested this in September
1977., This is the fastest 1$ay to get education gqing again.
becomes nonsensical to refuse utside assistance when the
parties can no longer negotiate ay d sob • 7 1-'ii. problems. If one
Teachers' Superannuation-Act including; withoin limiting the
generality of the foregoing, a. disability pension.
LATEST TEACHER PROPOSAL [same as last year's contract]
A teacher who has' completed 12 years service in' Huron
County schools and who •is eligible for pensioe under the
provisions of the Teachers' Superannuation Act' shall be entitled ,
to the payment of a gratuity on termination of employment.
feels that one's offer is reasonable, one should be willing to allomi •
• an arbitrator to make the decision., It is imperative that the.sehool
system in this county resume operation as quickly ae posSible
and arbitration appearS to be the only way.
7., What arc the Ions range financial im ications if the
tlementlayours. the te achers'.•position- reg rd ng-work" load? - •
Board Answer: The result could be .even smaller classes,
therefore. more teachers; therefore additional costs. The long
• range 'implicationis 'a shift of financial burden from. provincial
grants to local ratepayers.
Teachers. Answer: There. are no long-range. financial
implications. Quite simply, it is the pupil-teacher ratio that
deteriniees how Many teachers shall be hired. The workload
guidelines merely attempt to spread the workload • more
equitably among those teachers,
8. What are the long range workload implications if the
settlement favours the Board's proposal of a committee?
Board Answer: The. Board's proposal qffers the opportunity for
inp'ut by teachers in an ever changing 'situation.
TeitIC-herS Answer: If a settlement' favoured the Board's
present offer of a committee, teectiers would have no workload
protection and we could be returning to the situation we had a
few years ago, of 'two teachers in thc same department, one
teaching a total load of 95 students, the other teaching over 200.,
9. Do you agree with the Principals of Huron County who have
stated that the successful completion of the year is in danger?
Board Answer: Any prolonged interruption in the school year
affects the students.
•
Teachers Answer: Yes, we -agree that for a growing number of
student's the successful completion of their year is in danger. We
feel that it is not only the senior students who need regular
classes. but all- students.
10. What suggestions do you have to get serious negotiations
under way again?
Board...Answer: The Board's-position is re-ascii-table. We were
willing to trY the teachers' original workload proposAl inthe
1976-77 contract. but we fond it conflicted with the PTR
(Pupil-Teacher Ratio) clause. Why won't the teachers at least try
the .Board's ordoosal?
Teachers Answer: We have already requested the mediator,
Mr. Harvey Ladd; to once again attempt eo get the parties
together. This May have been acconiplishecLby the time this is
printed. If that attempt is unsuccessful— then once more we
would ask the Board to go to voluntary binding -arbitration. This
would enable teachers and students to return to their classrooms
while arbitration is going on. There is absolutely no point in
waiting for the Education Relations Comniissioh to step in and
eventually have compulsory binding arbitration imposed. We
can ask now, voluntarily- but only if the Board agrees..
years.
Co:ncerhedpar.ents say/ etters: will hel
Ontario; Or to Huron Chnty Board of Education, Clinton,
•
Ontario; or to Thomas Wells, Minister of Education, Parliament
BUildings, Toronto or better still all three! Sitfniqi. The Hiti•nn 1-corn's, ro.,'„,
he situation is serious, Don't underestimate what your letter
n do. ,
i s