President’s Report March 28, 2000

The grants generated by the funding model have been announced. Halton District will be receiving approximately 11 million dollars more than last year, according to information posted on the ministry web site.

a) Just prior to March break the Minister of Education announced new rules about instructional time. Tag will count, on-calls won’t. Teachers must still do 1250 minutes per week. Other details to follow

b) Technical paper released to accompany funding model information. Secondary teachers will be funded at approximately 6.5 plus tag (approximately 30 minutes per week), totaling approximately 6.66. This is approximately equivalent to the funding for the past two years.

c) The amendment to regulation 213 as released articulating specifics around instructional time.

I have copied this document for you, but it includes provisions such as:

-teachers must do a minimum of 1250 minutes of instructional time

-on calls do NOT count as instructional time

-TAG DOES count as instructional time

-teacher must be assigned to provide instruction in his or her regular timetable

-pupils must be assigned in a regular timetable to receive instruction

-teacher must be qualified to provide instruction

-teacher is responsible for instruction, evaluation, and reporting of progress

-a remedial class (assigned) can count

IT IS OUR BEST INTERPRETATION THAT NOTHING IN ANY OF THE ABOVE REQUIRES SECONDARY MEMBERS TO TEACH IN EXCESS OF SIX OF EIGHT. WE MUST ALL HAVE TIMETABLES WHICH ASSIGN 1250 MINUTES OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. INSTRUCTIONAL TIME IS RESTRICTED TO CREDIT BEARING COURSES, REMEDIAL, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TAG GROUPS. WE BELIEVE THE NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS CAN BE SUPER-IMPOSED ON THE EXISTING COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

The joint staffing meeting with principals and branch presidents was cancelled by the board, as they were not prepared to allocate staff at that time. Linda and I did briefly attend the meeting held that day to share our position with respect to staffing with principals. Late last week, the Board requested an extension in the staffing timelines, specifically the declaration of surplus date (April 3). On Monday morning, I responded in saying that we would not extend the timelines, and that our expectation was that the staffing timelines and workload provisions would be consistent with the collective agreement.

A sampling of information from other boards (as best I can tell)is as follows:

York - staffed at six of eight prior to March break.

Halton Separate - third year of agreement next year at six of eight

Other Separate - a number of boards have extended agreement through next year at six of eight

Peel - meeting Monday to resolve staffing. Board has indicated desire to staff at six of eight

Toronto - still talking about how to do six of eight

Avon-Maitland - may staff at 6.5 of eight (trying to get detail)

Keith Johnson has consistently indicated that he would like to and intends to staff at six of eight if not restricted from doing so.

4. Political Action Workshop – Peel (Saturday, April 8, 2000)

There is a Political Action Training Workshop being organized for Districts 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, and 20. Each district may send up to ten representatives. It is at Mobile Drive and runs from 10 until 3 with lunch provided. It would be nice to send a big group, and branch presidents would make great representatives.

Ampa was great! Delegation was fabulous and worked well together. Some big issues were no fee increase for this year, OSSTF is pulling out of CTF ($600,000 saving). Stony silence for Janet Ecker was fabulous!!!

It was passed at the last Board meeting. See handout.

As announced on chat, the surplus continues such that a premium holiday for life insurance premiums will continue through the summer. The coverage is not affected by the fact that members will continue to pay no premium.

Please submit your delegate names to the office ASAP. The District Assembly will be at the Mainway Arena. Social starts at 3:45 P.M., Buffet. Meeting will start at 5:00 P.M. We will be selling tickets for door prizes. Tickets will be sold at the door. The money collected will go to Kids-Help Phone Line.

9. Retirement Workshop

The Retirement Workshop will be on April 4^th at the Ramada Inn – Oakville. There are 112 participants attending, plus presenters. Another workshop will be organized for the Fall or Spring of next year.