If you are not teaching March 4th; ETFO Workshops; Find the Treasure in your CA; Pink Shirt Day

 

Not working on March 4th -  then "Earn While You Learn"!

If you are a daily Occasional Teacher, or your LTO assignment is .5 or less, then you are eligible to attend the PD sessions being offered on the March 4th PA day at TVDSB schools thoughout the valley, and be paid either a half-day or a full day salary for participating! These sessions are called "self-directed" and provide TVOT members with an opportunity to network with the permanent staff and to receive the same message.

N.B. These sessions require that a Permission Form be signed by the Principal where you plan to attend and forms must be submitted to System Staff Development a minimum of 3 days before the session. 

Registration is in the TVDSB Employee Portal in the Conference/Session Registration section, Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2021 - 2022. 

The morning session on March 4th will include: "Connection to Previous PD and Foundational Understandings" and "Guidelines for the Non-Use of Slurs and Other Epithets".

The afternoon session on March 4th is about "Culturally Relevant and Responsive Resource Selection (Decision Making Tool)".

An alternate session for staff who identify as racialized or marginalized will be available so please contact System Staff Development for this option.

For more information please visit  TVDSB Staff Development in the Staff Hub.

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Did You Know?

Article L18.02 states: "The timetable for an Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable of the Teacher being replaced..." .

This means that the daily OT has only the same supervision schedule as the Teacher had and that the daily OT receives the same scheduled prep period (self-directed as it is for permanent Teachers.)

The Local recognizes that there may be situations when OTs may be asked to give up their prep period because nobody is available to provide that time, so we urge members to keep track of these -  the Union is in discussion with HR as to how TVOT members will be compensated for this breach of our Collective Agreement. 

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Insurance served your way. Get a $20 gift card when you get a quote for car or home insurance! Speak to an OTIP broker on the phone & mention this offer. Get a quote: https://bit.ly/3u5P8pT #OTIPUpdate

Take a Stand against Bullying!

TVDSB School Bus cancellations; Math Subsidy; Union Representation; Black History Resources;

What to do if TVDSB Buses are Cancelled? When TVDSB cancels school buses, Occasional Teachers who are booked that day are expected to teach their class remotely unless their assignment has been cancelled with a minimum of two hours advance notice, as provided by the ETFOTVOT Collective Agreement in Article L16.05. Members can click TVOT Local to ask for further clarification or phone us at 519-641-3936.

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Math AQ Subsidy for TVDSB Teachers / Occasional Teachers

TVDSB reminds members that as part of the Ontario Math Strategy, the Ministry of Education has allocated funding to school boards to support Additional Qualification or Additional Basic Qualification, Math AQ Course subsidies. Certified TVDSB teachers are eligible for up to a $650 subsidy upon successful completion of the

following AQ Courses in Math between September 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022 pending the

availability of funding:

• Mathematics, Primary and Junior, Part 1

• Mathematics, Primary and Junior, Part 2

• Mathematics, Primary and Junior, Part 3

• Mathematics, Grades 7 and 8

• Mathematics, Intermediate (ABQ)

• Mathematics, Senior (ABQ)

• Mathematics, Honours Specialist

The goal of this program is to provide an incentive for more educators to complete Math AQ courses,

which will support teachers by:

• improving their Math content knowledge,

• enhancing their instructional and assessment practices, and,

• building their confidence when teaching in Math classrooms.

Teachers are free to register for these courses through the certified provider of their choice (e.g., any

Ontario University offering these courses, etc.).

TVDSB employees who submit proof of successful completion of one or more of the specified Math AQ Courses taken between September 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022 are eligible for funds up to $650 per course to reimburse the tuition costs. Applicants for this subsidy should submit proof of successful completion at their earliest convenience as subsidies will be provided on a first-come basis until all available funds are distributed.

Please submit the following information by email to Cameron Gordon at cameron.gordon@tvdsb.ca:

- Name

- TVDSB Employee Number

- OCT Number

- Course Name and Description

- Copy of Tuition Receipt

- Evidence of Successful Course Completion (eg. credentials added to OCT certificate)

For further information contact Principal Scott Askey at s.askey@tvdsb.ca

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ETFO Representation of Members The Federation has the right, and the legal obligation, to represent all members in its various bargaining units with respect to their terms and conditions of employment. When a school board offers an ETFO member an assignment, that member is governed by the relevant collective agreement and pays dues to ETFO.

ETFO provides an umbrella of protective services to members when they are performing their employment duties in Ontario public schools. Such services may include collective bargaining, grievances and grievance arbitration, employment-related advice, support at the Ontario College of Teachers and in CAS and criminal matters, where necessary, in accordance with the Federation’s Guidelines.

ETFO has established criteria for assessing when advice and legal support will be provided to members, the most important of which is whether or not the event in question is connected to the member's performance of his or her duties as a member. If the events are not connected to employment duties under the collective agreement, legal support will not be provided by ETFO.

ETFO members should resist entering into any type of "contract" for employment services, no matter how limited they appear to be, unless they are certain that the employment is covered by a collective agreement and dues are remitted to the appropriate union. If a member decides to work outside of his or her regular employment duties with a school board or with another employer, any legal issues which may arise may not fall within ETFO's mandate or criteria for legal approvals.

Self-driving vehicles and the future of car insurance in Canada

While fully automated self-driving vehicles are not yet available to the Canadian public, Ontario’s automated vehicle pilot program to test driverless vehicles on public roadways is already well underway. With the future of autonomous vehicles already here, many drivers are wondering what impact advanced vehicle technology will have on their car insurance. Here’s what you need to know.

Read more at www.otip.com/article134.

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It's Black History Month

The Canadian Negro Women's Association introduced the celebration of Black History Month in Toronto in the 1950's and thanks to the Ontario Black History Society, the initiative was adopted by the Ontario government in 1979 and later by the House of Commons in 1995.

Black History Month exists to remind us of the rich contributions by people of African and Caribbena descent, and of their ongoing struggel for equity and social justice. 

Click on Anti-Black Racism for access to the Black Canadian Calendar, assorted links and other resources collated by ETFO Provincial to help Teachers engage their students. 

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IT'S UP TO YOU -  Re-register Now!

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HAPPY FAMILY DAY!

Monday, February 21, 2022

ETFO Town Hall Meeting; The Underground Railroad; Earn on a Day You Do Not Teach; #RedforEd; "Pink Listing"

 

Notice of ETFO Virtual Town Hall Meeting 

Wednesday, February 16/22 from 6-7 PM

"WHAT'S AT STAKE" 

You can effect positive change in the next provincial election. It's time to get involved and encourage others to join in a collective effort to elect a government that cares about high-quality public education. Let's talk and strategizetogether!

"What's At Stake" is for ETFO members and will be held online using Zoom. To participate you must register by noon on February 14, 2022.   REGISTER HERE

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#RedforEd

ETFO members are working through one of the most challenging times in our history! ETFO has been fighting hard to ensure safe working and learning conditions during this pandemic and to demand fairness and justice for all workers. Show your solidarity with others when you wear RED FOR ED each and every Friday beginning on February 11! Take pictures of yourself and colleagues wearing red and share them on social media using the hashtag #RedforEd

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Just a Reminder - 

Daily OTs "...shall endeavour to provide written feedback to the Teacher being replaced at the conclusion of the occasional assignment. Such feedback will generally include comments on the progress of lessons taught, problems encountered and where appropriate, successes achieved and marks for work completed by students within the occasional assignment." Collective Agreement L18.01(b)

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Pink Listed

As of Monday, February 14/22, the OECTA Occasional Teacher bargaining unit in the Toronto Catholic District School Board will begin legal strike action. OECTA is issuing a "Pink Listing" concerning the hiring onto the OT Roster or any Occasional Teacher position of anyone outside the bargaining unit before February 14th.  TVOT members must be aware that they would be subject to discipline by OECTA if they are new hires to the Toronto Catholic DSB as of February 14/22 and agreed to be placed on the OT Roster or accept any OT teaching with that Board. N.B. This "pink listing" does not apply to ETFO members who were already members of that bargaining unit before Feb/ 24th. Such individuals would be subject to the requirements of the bargaining unit's strike sanction model.

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LOOK FOR NOTICE THIS WEEK!

Leasing vs. Buying a Car: What's Best For Me? 

Both leasing and buying have their benefits and drawbacks so the right choice all depends on your budget, driving needs and lifestyle. We've outlined some of the key factors to consider when deciding between leasing versus buying your next vehicle to help you determine which option is best for you. Read more at www.otip.com/article135

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More Options to Earn While You Learn!

TVDSB is offering another online asynchronous half-day paid PD option for daily Occasional Teachers.  REPEAT 0.5 Online Brightspace for OTs is available for all eligible OTs who have not previously completed this session within the last 2 years.  This session is listed under June 30 and can be completed anytime between now and June 30 when you have daily availability in TVARRIS. 

Look for this in the Employee Portal under Conference/ Session Registrations within the Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2021-2022 conference.  Registration is now open and the instructions and links are in the description box, which is found by clicking on the session title.

Please note, this half-day PD self-directed session includes two parts.  The video will provide you a guided overview of Brightspace and the Hybrid Learning course will allow you to enter Brightspace as a student and work your way through various topics that will allow you to experience the platform while providing information on how each part works.

You should have a BrightSpace account and the Hybrid course pre-assigned to you.  If you experience issues accessing the VLE or content, please reach out to Joshua Gray at joshua.gray@tvdsb.ca who will work to ensure your account is properly set up.  Please note that it can take up to one business day for this issue to be rectified.  If you have any other questions related to OT PD please reach out to Terri Manning, System Staff Development Specialist at t.manning@tvdsb.ca

TVDSB revises Inclement Weather Procedures; Lost Prep Periods; More Paid PD; Black History Month; Bill 115 Remedy; TVO Resources

 

TVDSB Revises Inclement Weather / School Closures

Last week, TVDSB notified all staff of their new procedures regarding severe weather and bus cancellations.

Effective immediately, when buses are cancelled to a TVDSB school that relies on buses, that school will be closed and will instead transition to remote learning for the day. This means that OTs should always check the TVDSB website to ensure that their job is not cancelled nor has it now become a remote assignment.

For more details about this and for information about specific bus routes, check your Board Outlook account for the memo from Communications, dated January 27th.

LTOs who cannot make it to school because of inclement weather can use one of their "Act of Nature" days as provided by Article L9.04 (b): A Long-Term Occasional Teacher who is unavoidably absent due to a local act of nature over which no one has control may be granted up to three (3) school days leave per school year with no deduction of sick leave.... It is understood and agreed that a "local act of nature" is an act of nature that occurs within the geographic area between the Teachers' home address and the school or worksite of said Teacher.

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Prep Time for Daily Occasional Teachers

The TVOT Collective Agreement provides that "The timetable of an Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable of the Teacher being replaced ..." (Article L18.02) 

This means that we follow the same supervison timetable and receive the same prep periods as scheduled for that Teacher. The Local is aware that given the shortage of OTs, Administrators are sometimes requesting a daily OT to give up their prep periods to supervise another class. This is in violation of the terms of our Agreement so the Union asks that daily OTs keep track of any time they do not receive their prep period as we are discussing with the Board how members will be compensated for these encroachments.

N.B. LTOs should expect to have lost prep periods paid back along with permanent Teachers. 

For assistance, please contact your TVOT Local . 

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Offered Once Again  

TVDSB is again offering as a paid PD session, "Supporting English Language Learners", a workshop facilitated by ETFO Provincial. This virtual workshop will be held on Tuesday, February 22/22 from 4:30-7:30 PM.

This is a paid PD session for eligible OTs available to those who have not taken the course previously and only those who are registered and who submit their reflection forms to Staff Development within 3 days after the session, will be paid for their participation,

To register, log into the Employee Portal and under "Conference/Session Registrations" click on Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2021-2022.

For more information on OTE PD, log into their website in Sharepoint at System Staff Development .

N.B. Please advise the Board if you must cancel so that someone from the waitlist can take advantage of this opportunity.

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February is Black History Month

If you are looking for resources in support of the need to take action on anti-black racism, here are some titles to consider:

• Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson
• Black Like Who?, Rinaldo Walcott
• How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi
• Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom, Lisa Delpit
• Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present, Robyn Maynard
• Schooling the System: A History of Black Women Teachers, Funke Aladejebi
• So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo
• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People to Talk About Racism, Robin Diangelo

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Check out the exciting line-up of events celebrating this month with the London Black History Coordinating Committee . 

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Free TVO Resources for your class -

In TVDSB, contact Josh Grayfor assistance.

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Lock it up!

Safety features are an important part of every home. Locks, specifically, are the best way to keep your home safe and secure from unwanted “guests.” Different doors require different types of locks. Let’s review some basic and high-tech models to help you decide what kind of locks fit your needs the best.

Read more at www.otip.com/article136

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Bill 115 Charter Challenge Remedy Decision

In September 2012, the Government imposed collective agreements on Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) members and other education sector workers through legislation called the Putting Students First Act, 2012, also known as Bill 115. In response, five unions – ETFO, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and Unifor – challenged Bill 115 in Court, arguing that the legislation violated Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  In a landmark decision released on April 20, 2016, the Superior Court of Justice held that Bill 115 substantially interfered with collective bargaining contrary to s. 2(d) of the Charter. In his decision, Justice Lederer ruled that Bill 115 infringed on union members’ rights to meaningful collective bargaining under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He also determined that the process the government engaged in was “fundamentally flawed.” At that time, Justice Lederer did not comment on a remedy for the parties, rather the unions and the government were required to meet to determine a remedy. If the parties were unable to reach agreement on a remedy, the matter will be referred back to Justice Lederer for a decision. Over 18 months, ETFO met with government representatives to negotiate a fair Bill 115 remedy settlement. The settlement offers made by the government were not a fair restitution for the losses experienced by ETFO members as a result of Bill 115. In June 2017, the issue of remedy was referred back to Justice Lederer. The remedy decision was received on February 2, 2022. Remedy Decision On February 2, 2022, Justice Lederer issued his decision on the ETFO remedy for the Charter violations that stemmed from the government’s imposition of Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act in 2012. This is the end of a long road for ETFO members, as we have been fighting, and waiting, a long time for a fair remedy. Today marks an end to that wait. The award of damages is significant in the amount of $103,100,000. “ETFO welcomes Justice Lederer’s decision, but we recognize it does not replace the loss of ETFO members’ bargaining rights, nor the sick leave, gratuities, and salary ETFO members lost when the Ontario government-imposed Bill 115,” says ETFO President Karen Brown. “We thank the court for recognizing that our members’ constitutional rights were violated by a government who unjustly forced contracts on them, froze their pay, and cut sick day provisions as part of an austerity push. Justice Lederer’s decision serves as a reminder to the government that they must never interfere with collective bargaining rights.”   Remedy Summary In brief, Justice Lederer has ordered a one-time cash payment of damages to eligible ETFO members who were employed by a school board during the 2012-2013 and/or 2013-2014 school year(s). ETFO will release specific details regarding the calculation of damages in our next communication. Award Eligibility ETFO members who were employed by a school board between September 1, 2012, and August 31, 2014, including those who are no longer employed by a school board may be eligible if they meet the criteria of the award. Please ensure your employer(s) have your current address on file.  The verification of employment data may take several months. ETFO will also engage in a notification process. Please be patient. Local offices don’t have specific details at this time and the provincial office will be communicating out in the near future.  __________________________________________