Use of SEMS

The protocol for use of SEMS currently in effect is as follows:

Permanent teachers report all absences through SEMS, and Occasional teachers are assigned all casual occasional work through SEMS. The ‘Special Instructions’ feature is to be used when reporting absences under code 45 ‘Board Out-of-School Activity-Weather Dependent’.

This means that:

• Individual Permanent teachers call in their immediate or future absence to SEMS. SEMS accesses the first qualified available occasional teaching according to the established process, beginning with the school specific list, then progressing systematically through the general list.
• Individual Occasional teachers are only to accept the job assigned through SEMS.
  

The Board and the Occasional Teachers recognized during the collective bargaining process that there may be exceptional circumstances warranting an authorized intervention by the Principal. Exceptional circumstance absences are defined as follows:

• those occurring in self-contained system classes and McHugh Schools.
• instances where sick leave is repeated for the same reason (i.e. physiotherapy).
• for emergency, compassionate and bereavement leave.
• for technological education.
• when permanent teachers serve as the Board or OECTA appointed representative on a central Board and/or OECTA committee, including Ministry initiatives.