BCTF/NDTA Stage 1 Job Action Plan Frequently Asked Questions

(April 24, 2014) During Stage 1, members will not:

1. undertake any mandated supervision of students outside of regularly scheduled classes, 2. attend any meetings with management, other than worksite Joint Health and Safety Committees, 3. provide administrative officers with any routine printed, written, or electronic communications, 4. receive any printed, written, or electronic communication from an administrative officer, and 5. be at a worksite prior to one hour before commencement of instructional time and one hour after the

end of instructional time, other than for pre-arranged voluntary activities.

Note: New information in red and at the top of the question and answer table.

General Advice

1. It is not business as usual.

2. If it feels like you are attempting a “work around” you probably shouldn’t be doing it.

Please refer back here often as we will update regularly.

Question Answer Field Trips/extra-curricular MOST RECENT BCTF ADVICE – given the uncertainty of

bargaining and the possibility of escalation to Stage 2, members are advised not to plan field trips for the remainder of this school year, and to cancel any that have been planned. This is due to the possibility that it may fall on a day when the Local is on a rotating strike and includes both day trips and extended trips.

Can teachers submit field trip notices to Admin? Yes as this is a safety issue, however consider the above most recent BCTF advice.

What communication can a principal provide to a staff committee?

A principal will provide relevant staffing and budgeting information to the staff committee so staff can make informed recommendations to the administrator.

Does my day end 15 minutes earlier with recess moved to the end of the day.

No – teachers are reminded that recess is part of the duration of their school day and should not leave the school before the 15 minutes have lapsed at the end of the day.

What are we supposed to do with notices from the superintendent?

Nothing.

When will rotating pickets begin? Unknown at this time. The NDTA will keep members up-to-date with information as we get it.

Will teachers be required to do any supervision? Only in cases of emergency. The Board has been requested to call us first.

What meetings are teachers not attending? Staff meetings, Department Head meetings, What meetings are teachers required to attend? Investigation, evaluation (including pre & post), student

discipline, job interviews, Staff committee, & School Based Team meetings.

Question Answer Are principals attending SBT or IEP meetings? • They can attend a SBT meeting where there is a

legitimate custody, confidentially, police, or legitimate safety issue for that individual student.

• They can attend an IEP meeting when they provide direct service to that student.

Are we attending pro-d activities? PD activities can go ahead. Administrators may attend but not lead.

Am I allowed to communicate with my principal? There is to be no printed, written, or electronic communication with a principal. (except below)

Under what conditions can I communicate with my principal?

• In any emergency you are expected to act in the normal manner and ensure the safety of all students.

• Leave of absence, violent incident, and WCB 6A forms can be submitted as usual.

• Recommendations from Staff Committees or Joint Health and Safety Committees can be provided.

• You can engage in brief, informal discussions with administration about work matters. This “chat” should not feel like a meeting

What should I do if my principal communicates with me?

All routine printed, written, or electronic communications from administrators should be recycled, deleted, or otherwise ignored.

What is happening with PLC’s, Success for All, E23, and any other Non-Instructional in-service meetings or training?

At this time all PLC, Success for All, E23, & In-Service time has been postponed and parents will be notified that students will now be in attendance.

Can I refer students to the office and how? Yes, continue to use student referral process and provide it to the office in the normal manner.

What are Counsellors allowed to continue with during job action?

Counsellors/non-enrolling teachers may • meet with students and parents during Stage 1

hours of work. • meet with administrators if concerned about the

safety or program of a student. This includes: o new registrations and changing student class

assignments. o meeting with administration regarding special

education adjudication for exams. o meeting with students and administrators when

advocating for a student. Do I still take attendance? Members will continue to take attendance and provide

it to the office in the normal manner. Do I still complete report cards? Report cards will not be affected by our Stage 1 job

action. You should continue to record and transmit the data in the normal manner.

Can I be at my worksite more than an hour before or after the commencement of instructional time?

No, unless it is for a pre-arranged voluntary activity which may include: • Extra-curricular activities • Concerts • Field trips

Should I be working on graduation activities? All graduation participation is voluntary. What should we do about parent teacher interviews? Where possible, new parent/teacher meetings, and

interviews, should be conducted during Stage 1 hours of work.

Question Answer I am on a District committee. Should I continue to attend meetings?

No, we are not attending meetings with administrators.

Can I attend School Board meetings? Locals are encouraged to continue to use these meetings to advocate for their members.

I am A TIC what am I expected to do? • Where possible, the existing TIC should continue to comply with our job action requirements above.

• A previous LRB ruling has stated that members may refuse to accept a new TIC position, but that members who accepted TIC positions should continue their “normal TIC duties” when there are no administrative officers in the school.

I am a member of the District Learning Services Support Team, Instructional Coordinator, SLP, Educational Psychologist, or Counsellor. Do I still attend meetings and how do I complete my work?

Continue to complete as much of your assignment as you can without administrative input. LSST meetings should be completed by 4pm and administrators should only attend for the same reasons as SBT meetings.

I have been asked to be a new TIC what should I do? Members should not volunteer to serve as a new TIC or do any AO work during the strike

What about Track and Field Meets? You are entitled to a duty free lunch and should request that you be able to take the appropriate amount of time for a lunch without any supervision duties.