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Working Conditions:
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How much Preparation and Evaluation time am I entitled to?
Elementary teachers from JK to 8 receive 200 minutes of preparation and evaluation time
per week during the instructional day. Each year, beginning in September 1, 2009 all
elementary teachers’ preparation and evaluation time will increase by 10 minutes of
preparation and evaluation time per week until the preparation time reaches 240 minutes
of preparation and evaluation time per week. This will occur by August 31, 2012.
High school teachers teach three of four courses per semester. The fourth time slot is
preparation and evaluation time but a high school teacher is responsible for 135 minutes
of supervision/on calls over a two (2) week period. The two week period begins the first
week of each semester. By September 1, 2010 on calls will only be used for emergencies
and teachers will do 100 minutes of supervision per two (2) week period.
See Article 22:03 of the Collective Agreement for further details.
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For what reason is an on call given to a teacher?
There is no definition of an on call, so they can be used to cover a teacher out of the
classroom for many reasons. Teachers are asked to plan their doctor appointments for
times other than during school so that on calls are not used. If a teacher finds it
impossible to do so, he/she is asked to take a half day absence for that appointment and
call in an occasional teacher. Teachers are asked not to ask teachers for favours to cover
classes (on calls) as it destroys the essence of Article 22:03 b) of the Collective
Agreement.
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How many staff meetings are mandatory?
All staff meetings are part of a teacher’s professional responsibility. The Principal calls
one staff meeting per month at a pre-set date and time. If an emergency meeting is called
and a teacher unilaterally chooses not to attend, said teacher can be called in for
insubordination. All teachers should speak to their Principal first, if they cannot attend
one of these meetings.
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Health and Safety:
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What is the protocol regarding fifth disease?
Once a pregnant teacher tests positive for fifth disease, she is re-assigned to a safe school
or to the Board office.
For a more detailed explanation please click on the Publications section on our home
page. There you will find a full explanation of the Protocol for Fifth Disease.
- What procedure do I follow if my class is too hot/cold?
The Ministry of Labour states that once the temperature of a room falls to 16 degrees
Celsius, occupants of that room must move to another safe location. There is no such
protocol for a hot room, but if your class room becomes too hot during the warmer
months, let Administration know and ask if you can be put in another location within the
school on a day to day basis. In high schools, there are always extra classrooms that can
be utilized, but in elementary schools, the gym or library is one of the options available to
the teachers.
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What procedure do I follow if I suspect mould in my classroom?
If you suspect mould in your classroom, see your Health and Safety OECTA Officer at
your earliest convenience and ask him/her to report the problem to the Joint Health and
Safety Committee. The JHSC will follow the necessary procedure to report the problem
to the JHSC and to the Principal.
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What are my rights to a safe work environment?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act [14(2a)], as well as the Education Act, requires
the employer to provide information to employees to protect their health and safety. As
well, the employer is required to make sure employees are aware of potential hazards in
the workplace. The Board shall also undertake measures to ensure that every reasonable
precaution is taken to provide a safe and healthy work environment.
The Board’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy Manual is available at each school
and a teacher may access the manual to examine any aspect of the policy..
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What are teachers’ rights and responsibilities during bomb threats, drug
searches, and lockdowns?
A teacher must stay in his/her classroom with his/her students. The door is kept closed.
No one is allowed in or out until the Principal/Vice-Principal comes over the P. A. to give
permission to carry on the school day. Students who have left the classroom and are
caught in the halls during the emergency, must report to the nearest class room and wait
until the emergency passes.
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Relationships and Professionalism:
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How do teachers deal professionally with parents?
A teacher must always conduct him/herself in a polite and professional manner. If a
parent becomes rude or aggressive, the teacher should state that the meeting is over and
that the teacher would be happy to resume at a later time with the Principal or Vice-
Principal present. Then report the incident to your Principal or Vice-Principal. An
excellent reference is Positive Professional Parent Teacher Relationships, available in
the Staff Representative binder and also available through the Unit office.
[(613) 723-0959]
- What is considered proper dress for teachers?
A teacher is expected to dress in a professional manner in keeping with the individual
school’s dress code. The school’s dress code is found in the Agenda that is handed out in
September of each year, by all the schools.
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Leave:
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What are the parameters to apply for Maternity or Paternity Leave?
Requests for pregnancy and parental leave must be submitted to the Superintendent of
Human Resources, in writing, at least one (1) month prior to commencement of leave.
(Article 17:01 (d) of the Collective Agreement)
Requests for pregnancy and parental leave must be accompanied by a medical certificate
from the medical practitioner, indicating the expected date of delivery.
(Article 17:01 (f) of the Collective Agreement)
Requests for leave shall also indicate the anticipated return date.
(Article 17:01 (g) of the Collective Agreement)
A permanent teacher may, upon request, be granted a full school year, full semester, (in
semestered schools) or full term (in non-semestered schools) leave without pay for
paternity reasons. Requests for such leave shall be made in writing to the Superintendent
of Human Resources by May 1 of the previous school year for a full year leave and as
early as possible for a semester or term leave.
(Article 17:05 of the Collective Agreement)
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If a teacher gives birth in July can she wait until September to start her
Maternity Leave?
Maternity leave must start when the baby is born.
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When do I inform the board of my impending Maternity Leave?
It must be done at least 1 month before the impending leave. (See Article 17:01 (f)
above)
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How long do I get Maternity or Paternity Leave?
A teacher is granted 52 weeks for Maternity Leave. It can be extended for another year
upon approval by the Board. If extended beyond a year, the teacher cannot expect to
return to her home school. Returning to one’s home school would be at the discretion of
the Board, if a vacancy exists.
Paternity leave can last a full term, full semester, or full year.
- Do I need to keep up my benefits and pension contributions during my
Maternity or Paternity Leave?
It is important that you do so in case the unexpected occurs. For example, if a condition
occurs following a pregnancy, such as diabetes, and the benefit package has been
cancelled, the diabetes is now a pre-existing condition and the teacher in question may
have to go through a longer waiting period before having this condition covered. The
insuring agent can also ask for a medical.
- What happens to my position if I decide to extend my Maternity or Paternity
Leave?
If you extend your leave by one year, you will be placed in a school where a vacancy
exists, upon return. You can apply to the Superintendent of Human Resources to extend
your leave, but though the Board does try to accommodate where possible, returning to
one’s home school is not guaranteed.
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What other types of leave am I entitled to?
You are entitled to sick leave (Article 16 of the Collective Agreement), special leave with
pay (Article 18:01 of the Collective Agreement), and special leave without pay
(Article18:02 of the Collective Agreement). A teacher is also eligible for the teacher
funded x/y leave plan (see Article 19 of the Collective Agreement).
Under Article 16, a teacher is eligible for 20 days of sick leave per year. Unused sick
leave accumulates to a maximum of 250 days.
Under Article18 a teacher is eligible for the following leave each school year:
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Emergency and compassionate reason’s in the employee’s household – up to 3 days
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Moving of employee’s household – 1 day
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Short-term paternity/adoption leave – up to 2 days
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Marriage leave – 1 day
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Examination leave to write exams leading to educational professional qualifications
- Jury Duty
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Quarantine
- Special leave for family reasons, community related reasons and personal reasons – 1
day. Teachers not using their personal leave day during the current school year may
carry over a maximum of one (1) extra day which may be used concurrently in the next
school year.
- Child care leave for illness to the teacher’s child(ren) – up to 2 days
- Bereavement Leave – 3 consecutive working days when required (or more at the
discretion of the Board) for the death of an immediate member of the family; that is
father or foster father, mother or foster mother, brother, sister, spouse, child,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, step-parent, step-child, ward or guardian.
- One day is granted, when required (or more at the discretion of the Board) for the death
of a non-immediate member of the family or personal friend.
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How much lead time should there be in asking for a Personal Leave day?
A teacher should try to give reasonable notice of request for personal leave when
possible. The reason for the request should state “for personal family related reasons”.
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When is a medical note necessary for leave?
Article 16:07 of the Collective Agreement states that a medical note may be necessary
when the teacher’s period of absence exceeds five consecutive teaching days, or the
teacher has used, in the current school year, seven days or more sick leave, none of which
has been certified by a qualified medical practitioner. The Superintendent may also ask
for a medical certificate if the request and the reasons for the request is put in writing. If
an absence is in excess of two weeks, the Board may require a medical certificate
indicating the expected date that the teacher is fit and able to return to work.
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What are the medical conditions necessary to apply for LTD?
One may apply for LTD for any variety of physical conditions, as well as emotional and
psychological conditions, for which you are under the care of a medical specialist.
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What can I expect in terms of placement upon return from various leaves?
Other than Pregnancy Leave, a teacher returning to the system from leave of less than a
year returns to his/her same school, panel and comparable position, subject to the surplus
to school and/or redundancy provisions of the Collective Agreement as per Article 25:08
and Article 26. Such teachers shall return to teaching as of January 1, after the March
Break, at the beginning of a semester, the start of the school year or on any other date
mutually agreed upon by the teacher and the Superintendent of Human Resources.
(Article 18:04 (a))
A teacher returning from leave of a year or more shall be placed according to the
following protocol:
- If a vacancy exists for which the teacher is qualified, the teacher may choose to return to
the same school.
- In the event that a vacancy in the school does not exist, the teacher shall be placed in the
same panel and position to that held at the commencement of the leave.
Such teachers shall return to teaching as of January 1, after the March Break, at the
beginning of a semester, the start of the school year or on any other date mutually agreed
upon by the teacher and the Superintendent of Human Resources.
(Article 18:04 of the Collective Agreement)
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Professional Development:
- How do I access professional development 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 funding?
In First Class, click on Conferences, then the Forms Catalogue. From here, click on
Student Success, then Conference Funding. Once in this file click on Teacher Funds
and the form and application will come up.
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How do I access scholarship programs to assist courses/workshops outside of
school time?
OECTA Provincial offers bursaries. Check on the OECTA Provincial website at:
www.oecta.on.ca
The local Unit also offers Teacher Education Grants available,
with criteria, on our
website.
- What OECTA courses are recognized by QECO?
Any Additional Qualifications courses run by OECTA Provincial are recognized by
QECO. Locally run courses for Reading Part 1 and 2, and Religious Education Parts 1
and 2 are also recognized.
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Contracts/Benefits:
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Where can I get a copy of our benefit booklet?
The group insurance booklet can be found in First Class under ‘Conferences’ – Benefits
Health and Safety Conference – Benefits Conference. The Benefits Booklet shows up on
the left side as an icon.
- Where are the details of our contract?
The details of our contract are found in the Collective Agreement booklet. If you don’t
have a copy, it can be accessed through our website at: www.oectaottawa.ca
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Why do some of our members get a retirement gratuity and others don’t?
Retirement gratuity was grandfathered in the 1998 amalgamation year for the OECTA
Ottawa Unit teachers who already had a retirement gratuity package. At the time of
amalgamation the OECTA Carleton Unit did not have such a plan.
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What consideration is being given to an honorarium to our members who
accumulate unused sick days at the end of their careers?
This is an ongoing issue under consideration.
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About OECTA:
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Explain the role of OECTA as a part of OTF and CTF.
OECTA is an affiliate of both organizations and pays dues to both organizations based on
the membership numbers. Our membership in CTF is under review effective the 2007 –
2008 school year.
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What are the roles and responsibilities of officers of our Unit?
Please refer to the OECTA Ottawa Unit’s Bylaws and Procedures Manual available on
the OECTA Ottawa website at: www.oectaottawa.ca
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Pension:
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Whose pension benefits am I paying with my pension contributions?
Each teacher pays his own pension contributions; that is why a teacher’s pension is
calculated individually.
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As I approach retirement, when can I stop paying LTD? How do I accomplish
this?
Effective Sept. 1, 2001, you may qualify to cancel your long term disability insurance if
you meet one of the following criteria as set out by your insurance policy.
Your LTD insurance terminates on the earliest of the following dates:
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The end of the month following your 65th birthday, less the length of the waiting
period
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The date you qualify for a 66% unreduced service pension less the length of the
waiting period
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The date you achieve the 85 factor and have sufficient sick leave credit accumulation
to cover you until retirement. You must be in your last year of teaching.
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Other:
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What is the process to declare a teacher surplus?
Please refer to the Collective Agreement Article 26 for details. Redundancy is affected in
the reverse order of seniority as per Article 21 provided that the teachers remaining have
the required qualifications according to the Acts and Regulations.
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What is the process to apply for a transfer?
Go directly to the Apply to Education website and follow the process. Volunteer and
Absolute transfer applications must be submitted the last Friday before the March Break
for the duration of the 2008 -2012 contract.
The website is as follows:
www.applytoeducation.com
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