HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-23, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019. PAGE 15.
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make childcare funding part of the
education budget, removing millions
of dollars from school board
budgets.
The 34 notices explained that, as
the junior-most members of the
board’s teaching complement, the
teachers will not have completed
their probationary period, meaning
that the teachers would be put on the
“Recall List”, giving them access to
the right of recall to positions they
are qualified for, in order of
seniority. They will remain on the
list for two years.
The redundancy notices explain
that a report outlining the lost
positions will be considered by the
school board at its May 28 meeting,
and, if accepted, the cut positions
will be official and the teachers’
employment will be terminated
effective Aug. 31.
Cleland explained that this is the
second time in 10 years that
redundancy notices have been issued
throughout the Avon-Maitland
District School Board, and that, with
34 notices being issued, it’s a far
more critical change than when the
board previously issued five in 2016.
He said that 27 schools across the
board will be losing at least one
teacher, and those 34 teachers
represent more than 130 years of
teaching experience, as well as over
100 extra courses taken by those
teachers to better themselves for
their positions.
When asked if these teachers may
find other positions, or if their
positions may re-open by the time
the 2019-2020 school year starts,
Cleland said he remains hopeful that
“sense will come” to those
responsible for the cuts and some of
the positions may be restored.
Cleland said, in no uncertain
terms, that students will suffer,
communities will suffer and
programs will be cut.
When asked what his message
would be to graduates trying to enter
the teaching field, who are now
competing against redundant
teachers as well as their peers, he
said to “stick with it.” Those
teachers, Cleland said, may not
make it into the field for three years
as a result of the changes, but
emphasized the importance of young
teachers being a part of the
education system.
The announcement that 34
elementary-level teachers received
redundancy notices across the Avon-
Maitland District School Board
comes weeks after 69 secondary
school teachers in the board received
notices.
Redundancy notices concern local federation
Coming face to face
Kent Cleland, president of the Avon-Maitland – Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario,
was in Blyth last Thursday to speak with members of the media and to illustrate, in rather literal
terms, the impact he feels Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson and
her government’s cuts are having locally. Thirty-four local teachers were given redundancy
notices (pinned to the window of Thompson’s Blyth constituency office) this year and
Cleland said this is only the second time in 10 years the Avon Maitland District School Board
has done so. The previous instance involved just five notices, illustrating a dramatic shift to this
year’s 34. (Denny Scott photo)
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