Your Timetable as an OT; Leaves of Absence for daily OTs; TVDSB Disconnecting from Work; A message from the ETFO Provincial President; Columbia Outlet Invitation; Provincial PD Opportunities;

It's important to know that your Collective Agreement provides:

L18.02 - The timetable for an Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable of the Teacher being replaced...

L18.03 a) - Unless hired for a long-term occasional assignment in accordance with the provisions of Article L15, an Occasional Teacher shall not be assigned supervisory duties prior to the commencement of class on the first morning of an assignment or prior to the commencement of the afternoon class on the first day if it is a half-day afternoon assignment.

L18.03 b) - Where an Occasional Teacher is hired for a vacancy for preparation time or meeting coverage, that Occasional Teacher shall be assigned no more than one (1) supervisory duty. The Occasional Teachers will still maintain a forty (40) minute uninterrupted lunch and forty (40) minute preparation time period. The forty (40) minute preparation time will be scheduled as early in the day as possible based on the schedule of events requiring coverage.

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Leaves from the OT elementary List:

- TVOT daily members can apply for a voluntary leave of absence from the OTE (Occasional Teacher Elementary) list: 

• a full year leave (Article L10.16 - deadline to apply is December 30th) This is good if  the OT is working for secondary or for another Board
• less than a full year leave (Article L10.17 and the number of days required to remain on the OTE list will be pro-rated to one day per each month they were active).

In both cases, members apply via Laserfiche in the TVDSB Employee Portal and the Supervisor will be Clare Macmillan / clare.macmillan@tvdsb.ca.

Contact the OT Office for further details.

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TVDSB Communication Protocol -

TVOT members are reminded that the Board's "Disconnecting from Work - Employee Procedure", has been in effect since June 2022. It provides guidelines to employees to eliminate or significantly reduce the practice of After-Hours work-related communications. “After Hours” generally means from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday and from Friday 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.  “Disconnect from Work” means not engaging in work-related communications, including emails, telephone calls, video calls, text messages, or the sending or reviewing of other messages, so as to be free from the performance of work. There will be no consequence or penalty for staff who do not respond to after-hours communication, subject to the requirements related to emergency communications.

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Are you ready to make a difference? 

A message from Karen Brown, Provincial ETFO President

 Your Columbia Employee Store Invitation is valid from September 20 - October 13th.  For store access to brands such as Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel and PrAna, TVOT members will need to provide the invitation and proof of affiliation (pay stub). Invitees can bring up to 4 additional guests. 

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TVOT Occasional Teachers / LTOs are eligible to attend ETFO Provincial Events and Conferences and in many cases, ETFO Provincial will reimburse members with release time which counts for all purposes, as time worked. 

Here are a few programs you might find of interest (WP programs are only available to women members) 

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Are you aware that OTIP (the Ontario Teachers' Insurance Plan) is built for all members of the education community? Get personalized service, exclusive discounts on car and home insurance, and a $20 gift card of your choice when you get a quote. Plus, when you get a quote throughout September and October, you'll be automatically entered into our Back to School Bonus Contest for a chance to win $1,000 cash! Get a quote: https://bit.ly/3MQyra7 #OTIPUpdate

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Provincial ETFO Awards are open members and include daily and LTO Occasional Teachers.

Applications for these awards are open until February 1, 2025 and are available at https://www.etfo.ca/about-us/awards-scholarships/etfo-awards

Anti-Bias Award - For an active ETFO member or group of members who develop and teach units and/or incorporate practices that work toward the elimination of bias. $500 Award

Anti-Poverty Award  - For an active ETFO member or group of members who have given outstanding service to supporting anti-poverty initiatives in their school and/or broader community. $500 Award

Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award - For an active ETFO member or group of members to recognize active involvement in anti-racist and equity activism in the classroom or community.  $500 Award

Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award (Woman’s Program)  -  For an active ETFO woman member to recognize active involvement in anti-racist and equity activism in the classroom or community.  $500 Award

Arts and Culture Award - For an active ETFO member(s) to recognize involvement in arts and cultural activities for children in either the classroom or community. $500 Award

Children’s Literature Award (open to ETFO members/non-ETFO members) -For an active ETFO member or an individual or group of non-ETFO people who write a specific piece of published children’s literature appropriate for elementary school-age children that recognizes quality children’s literature that is in keeping with ETFO’s positions on social justice and equity. $500 Award

Environmental Education Award  - For an active ETFO member to recognize their outstanding commitment to the care and protection of the environment. $500 Award

Faculty of Education Award - For a student at a faculty or school of education at a publicly funded university/institution in Ontario, during the final year of their teacher training. Up to 17 $500 Awards (This award is not intended to support a master’s or doctorate program).

Health and Safety Activist Award - For an active member of ETFO to recognize their outstanding commitment and involvement in health and safety activities. The recipient shall receive a recognition award and be invited to a luncheon and awards ceremony at ETFO’s Annual Meeting.

Honorary Life Membership Award - For an individual who has retired from the education profession, for one full calendar year prior to the February 1^st nomination deadline, and who has given outstanding service to the Federation at the provincial level. The recipient(s) shall be given an ETFO pin and extended the rights and privileges of being an honorary life member. The recipient(s) shall be honoured at the Annual Meeting.

International Humanitarian Award for an ETFO Member - For an active ETFO member who has given outstanding service to supporting children in the global community. The recipient shall receive a donation of $500 to further the work being acknowledged by ETFO and receive a Certificate of Recognition from the president.

International Humanitarian Award for non-ETFO Member - For an individual or a group of individuals who do not hold ETFO membership, but have given outstanding service to supporting children in the global community. The recipient shall receive a donation of $500 to further the work being acknowledged by ETFO and a Certificate of Recognition from the president.

Local Humanitarian Award for an ETFO Member - For an active ETFO member who has given outstanding service to supporting children in the local community. The recipient shall receive a donation of $500 to further the work being acknowledged by ETFO and receive a Certificate of Recognition from the president.

Local Humanitarian Award for non-ETFO Member - For an individual or a group of individuals who do not hold ETFO membership but have given outstanding service to supporting children in the local community. The recipient shall receive a donation of $500 to further the work being acknowledged by ETFO and a Certificate of Recognition from the president.

Member Service and Engagement Award - To recognizes the excellence of ETFO locals at engaging and involving members. Outstanding service to members and innovative strategies to communicate with and involve members in the Federation are celebrated by this award. This award will be presented to the local following an awards luncheon, to which the president and up to two guests are invited, at an awards ceremony during the Annual Meeting. Up to two awards may be given each year.

New Member Award - For a member of ETFO with five years or less membership who has shown a commitment to the Objects of ETFO, and been significantly involved at the local and/or provincial level of the organization. The recipient shall receive a recognition award and be invited to a luncheon and awards ceremony at the Annual Meeting.

Outstanding Role Model for Women Award (Women’s Program) - For an active ETFO woman member who has been an outstanding role model for women at the local level during the previous school year. The recipient shall receive a recognition award and be invited to a luncheon and awards presentation at the Annual Meeting.

Outstanding Service as ETFO Staff Member Award - For an individual(s) who has given outstanding service to the Federation during their career. The staff member must be retired from the ETFO staff for one full calendar year prior to the February 1 nomination deadline. Retired staff members shall be nominated by the ETFO Executive, upon recommendation of the General Secretary or designate. The recipient(s) shall receive an award and be honoured at the Annual Dinner. The recipient(s) shall have the privilege of attending the ETFO Annual Dinner each year and any other privileges as determined by the ETFO Executive.

Political Activist Award - For an ETFO member’s outstanding commitment to union activism. The recipient shall receive a recognition award and be invited to a luncheon and awards ceremony at the Annual Meeting. ETFO may grant one award each year.

Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award - For an active ETFO member or members to recognize a curriculum unit, resource, etc. that they have developed. $500 Award

Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award (Women’s Program) - For an active ETFO woman member or a group of women members to recognize a curriculum unit, resource, etc. that they have developed. $500 Award

Rainbow Visions Award (open to ETFO members/non-ETFO members) - For an active ETFO member or group of members or to an individual, or group of individuals, who do not hold ETFO membership, who develop materials and/or incorporate practices that work toward the inclusion of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, plus (2SLGBTQ+) realities. $500 Award

Women Who Develop Special Programs in Science and Technology Award ( Women’s Program) - This award may be presented as an incentive for active ETFO women members to produce innovative educational materials related to science and technology. $500 Award

Women Working in Social Activism on Behalf of Women and Children Award – Women’s Program (open to non-ETFO members) - For an individual woman or a group of women who do not hold ETFO membership but have been outstanding social activists on behalf of women and children in the local or global community. Up to two awards of $2,500 

Writer’s Award  -  For an active ETFO member or a group of members to recognize published or unpublished works. $500 Award

Writer’s Award (Women’s Program - For an active ETFO woman member or a group of women members to recognize published or unpublished works. $500 Award

Earn While You Learn Opportunities; TVDSB BrightSpace Classroom; Payment for OTs on Statutory Holidays; Your $75 Dollar Resource Rebate

 

TVOT members have the opportunity to be paid for participating in professional development on  days when there are no teaching opportunities. Participation in such sessions counts for all purposes as teaching time. Options and registration for Paid PD sessions has been moved to TVDSB's Elementary / Dual Occasional Teacher BrightSpace classroom. Registration is no longer via the Employee Portal.

One option being offered on October 11th will be an in-person all-day session hosted by the Local - Classroom Management for the Daily Occasional Teacher. Look for details on this workshop and others to be posted soon in the OT BrightSpace Classroom. 

Please check out the accompanying directions below. Terri Manning t.manning@tvdsb.ca in Staff Development will be able to assist members experiencing difficulties.

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- Neither permanent Teachers or Occasional Teachers are paid for statutory holidays as we are exempt under the Employment Standards Act of Ontario. 

- LTOs are expected to attend PD days according to the FTE of their assignment and they will be paid accordingly.

- Daily OTs can earn money on PD days by participating in paid PD sessions. Online paid PD sessions can be completed anytime (evenings, weekends etc.) and then submitted to Staff Development for payment.

- TVDSB's email system is to be used only for Board purposes. The Local asks members to use their personal email accounts when communicating with the Union.

- OTs/LTOs have a right to Union representation from the OT Office at any meeting which might result in discipline. Contact us at 519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com .

- All TVOT members are elibible for a $75 Resource Rebate from the Local. Open an account at www.etfotvot.com to access the application form.

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The Ontario Library Association is campaigning to save school libraries. For more information, and to sign a petition of support, visit https://accessola.com/save-our-school-libraries/

Did you Know? Your Collective Agreement; What to expect at a daily assignment; ETFO Workshops open to TVOT members

 

Did You Know:

- To receive daily assignments, you must ensure that you have selected schools on TVARRIS and that your contact information is accurate. 

- While TVOT members have ratified a new Collective Agreement, the parties have not yet completed their reviews of the meshed new Agreement. We are working to get this finished and posted for TVOT member access.

- ETFO Stewards represent the permanent Teachers at a school. TVOT members are represented by the OT Office (519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com) as we are a separate Local with our own Collective Agreement. Please never hesitate to contact us - we are here to support TVOT members.

- Occasional Teachers can access information and PD opportunities directly from ETFO Provincial at members.etfo.ca

TVDSB and your TVOT Local agree that:
- L16.01/(L16.02) - An OT who is called for a half-day / (full day) assignment who reports and finds that their services are not required, shall remain at the school, receive pay for that assignment and perform professional duties as assigned by the Administrator.

- L16.05(a) - The Board shall give a minimum of two (2) hours notice of cancellation of a pre-arranged daily assignment.

- L16.07(b) - Where there is a vacant classroom assignment, reassignment from a non-classroom assignment may be necessary at the discretion of the Principal.

- L18.03(a) - A daily OT shall not be assigned supervisory duties before classes on the first morning of an assignment or prior to afternoon class for a half-day afternoon assignment.

- L7.03 - The minimum daily OT salary for a part day assignment is .5, however salary can be pro-rated after that if the OT is replacing a permanent Teacher who is less than full time.

Members must be registered on the Local TVOT website in order to access our $75 Resource Rebate and our $500 Professional Learning Development Fund (PLDF) subsidy.

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Check last week's blog for details about your invitation to shop and save!

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Columbia Sportswear Store Invitation; Cell phones in School; Your Health and Safety Rights; Lots of Provincial ETFO Workshops

The new daily 

Occasional Teacher rate in TVDSB is $271.60 plus 4% which is shown on a separate line for a total per diem of $282.46.  The grid for LTOs will soon be published once all parties have had a chance to approve it.

NEW - School Board Policy on Enforcement of Restrictions to Student Personal Mobile Device Use

School boards must develop a local policy setting out how they will enforce the restrictions on student use of personal mobile devices at school. The policy must comply with the board’s obligations under the Education Act and other relevant provincial policy and legislation. The policy must, at minimum, align with the following direction provided in this memorandum:

All members of the school community must not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except under the following circumstances:

- for educational purposes, as directed by an educator

- for health and medical purposes

- to support special education needs

At minimum the local policy must require that for grades 7 to 12 students’ personal mobile devices are stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above.

If the educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional period and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location in the classroom designated by the educator

For students in grade 6 and below, at minimum the local policy must require that students’ personal mobile devices are stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode through out the full instructional day, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above.

If an educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional day and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location designated by the principal

The student is responsible for their personal mobile device, how they use it and the consequences of not following the school board’s policy on personal mobile device use.

If the student does not hand in their personal mobile device when required, they must be sent to the Principal’s office. Principals have discretion under PPM No. 145, Progressive discipline and promoting positive student behaviour, to consider a range of responses to address this behaviour including suspension.            To support the implementation of the above, the local policy must include:

- an approach to enforcement of the restrictions that includes clear expectations of responsibility for students, educators, principals and superintendents

- best practices for educators on classroom management related to responsible use of technology

- a requirement for schools to have an annual notification sent to parents and students reminding them of the policy, its requirements and consequences for non-compliance

- a requirement that the expectations and responsibilities under the local policy, the best practices for educators and the annual notifications for parents be shared with all educators and principals.

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You have a right to a safe worksite. To find out more visit https://etfohealthandsafety.ca/site/

A way to save at the Columbia Sportswear Outlet - time limited!

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Did you know that TVOT Occasional Teachers / LTOs are eligible to attend ETFO Provincial Events and Conferences? 

In many cases, ETFO Provincial will reimburse members with release time which counts for all purposes, as time worked. 

Here are a few programs you might find of interest (WP programs are only available to women members) -

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