How would you feel if a teacher in your child's classroom was replaced by an 'Emergency Instructor'?
Some Niagara Catholic Elementary parents have received a note saying their schools may have to use 'Elementary Emergency Instructors'.
The letter reads that the Niagara Catholic District School Board is committed to ensuring that qualified teachers are in classrooms at all times, but from time to time, it may not be possible.
That's when a board registered 'Emergency Instructor' may be called upon, as a casual worker, to cover a classroom in the absence of the classroom teacher for a part or a full day.
The letter says careful consideration is given to the selection of people to fulfill the roles, and the Emergency Instructor is given training in school procedures and is subject to a criminal background check before entering the classroom.
According to the board's policy surrounding the instructors, the 'Emergency Instructor' is a person who is not certified as a teacher, is 18 years of age or older, has a high school diploma, and on a daily basis to a maximum of ten school days, to instruct in the case of an emergency.
The policy states that 'Emergency Instructors' shall not be deployed unless and until the call out for occasional teachers on the Occasional Teacher Roster have been exhausted, all retirees from the Emergency List have been exhausted, Catholic teachers who have not submitted a pastoral reference are considered, followed by the deployment of Emergency Instructors when required.
It will be the Principal’s discretion to deploy them.
The board has provided a statement saying this is not a strategy for any labour disruption, but is a proactive strategy for any extenuating circumstance where a classroom teacher cannot be replaced with a qualified occasional teacher.
The full statement is below.
You can read the full policy by clicking here.
Back in March of 2017 the Niagara Catholic School board locked out all permanent elementary teachers after negotiations between the union and the board stalled.
The lockout lasted a week and a new deal was eventually ratified.
Here is a part of the letter send to parents:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Niagara Catholic District School Board is committed to ensuring that qualified teachers are teaching in our classrooms at all times. From time to time, in extenuating circumstances, this may not be possible. A Board registered Emergency Instructor may be called upon, as a casual worker, to cover a classroom in the absence of the classroom teacher for a part or a full day. Careful consideration is given to the selection of people to fulfill these roles, and the Emergency Instructor is given training in school procedures and is subject to a Criminal Background Check/ Vulnerable Sector Screening before entering the classroom.
Here is the statement from Niagara Catholic Board in response to our story:
Niagara Catholic continues to develop strategies to cover absenteeism by staff in schools to ensure the continuation of programs, supports and services. We are committed to ensuring that qualified OCT (Ontario College of Teachers) teachers are delivering programs in our classrooms for staff who are absent.
We continue to experience difficulties in replacing staff who are absent. Niagara Catholic has an occasional list of qualified teachers (OCT) to replace absent teachers. There are rare occurrences were the availability of occasional teachers cannot meet the demands of the number of staff who are absent. In these extenuating circumstances, a Board trained emergency instructor can be called upon at the discretion of the school Principal. A number of the Emergency Instructors have OCT qualifications and/or teaching experience.
The Emergency Instructor can be appointed as permitted by Section 21 of the Education Act, such an appointment is valid for ten school days. As required by Board Policy, all individuals placed on the Emergency Instructor list will be required to complete a Board level orientation and training program, which includes Vulnerable Sector Police Criminal Background Check, health and safety awareness training, familiarization with Board Policies, Procedures and Protocols. At the school level, Emergency Instructors are provided with training on fire drills, safety plans, safe arrival and dismissal, unique needs of specific students in classrooms etc. Prior to the first working day, the Emergency Instructor will be required to sign an acknowledgement form confirming that they are aware of and will follow Board and school expectations as well as a confidentiality agreement. All Emergency Instructors, under the direct supervision of the school Principal or Vice-Principal, will follow the lesson plans provided by the teacher who is absent.
The creation and use of Emergency Instructors was a result of an agreement between Niagara Catholic District School Board and OECTA Elementary in November 2018. It is designed to address rare circumstances where classroom teachers are absent and occasional teachers cannot be secured as a replacement.
We value our staff and the programs, supports and services they provide every day in Catholic education. This is not a strategy for any labour disruption, but is a proactive strategy for any extenuating circumstance where a classroom teacher cannot be replaced with a qualified occasional teacher.
Niagara's Catholic Elementary teachers are part of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association union.
We have reached out to the union for comment.
Meantime, Public elementary teachers are at odds with the province over whether their work-to-rule campaign will affect students.
The teachers' union says the action will target ministry and school board administrative tasks.
They're being told not to complete Term 1 report cards, not to participate in any professional learning from their school board or the ministry outside of school hours and not to do any online training by the ministry.
But Education Minister Stephen Lecce says even a partial withdrawal of services, quote -- ``hurts our kids.''
The campaign is set to begin on November 26th.
(with files from the Canadian Press)