phase1faqandjobactionplan - 4nov11

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Phase 1 Updated: November 4, 2011

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This document is intended as a reference guide for local presidents.

Administration

What do I do with written announcements or memos from my

administrator? Recycle.

What do I do with any email communication from my administrator?

Delete it without opening. Note: Many administrators continue to send emails

such as notices and memos.

Assemblies

Teachers will not participate in the preparation or organization of assembliesoutside of instructional time, or during instructional time unless coverage isprovided. Teachers may attend assemblies during instructional hours.

Assessment

Should teachers conduct tests for purposes of data collection if the

information is intended for school or district administration and not for a

student‟s IEP? No.

Bill 33 consultations

Do members attend Bill 33 consultation meetings? Yes, normal process.

Communication (verbal) with Administration

Members can engage in informal discussions with administration about workmatters. This ‘chat’ should not feel like a meeting. It should be for informationpurposes only and can be initiated by either party.

Counsellors

Meet with students? Absolutely.

Meet with parents? When the member is available.

Meet with administrators? Only if member is concerned about the safety of a

student.




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Counsellors - Secondary School

Add new registrations and change student class assignment? Yes, but only

during instructional time.

Meet with administration regarding special education adjudication forprovincial exams mid-term? No, counsellor will submit names and

adaptation required to office.

Meet with students and administrators? When advocating for a student.

Can members assist students with Language Challenge applications? Yes,

if the normal process is for counsellors to do this task, then counsellors may

continue to assist students with these applications. If the normal process has

been for administrators to do this task, then administrators will continue to do

it and counsellors can continue to refer students to administration for thispurpose. Teachers are not to collect any fees associated with this process.

Distributed Learning - DL

Instructional Hours: Distributed learning teachers should offer instructiononly during their normal instructional hours.

Should teachers complete student enrolment data in DL? No, unless it is

part of their normal duties as a counsellor. Students should be directed to

school or district administration for enrolment.

Can teachers submit marks for the initial assignment that qualifies thestudent for funding? Yes

Can teachers submit other course marks to administration? No, teachers

can record their course data and marks as usual on-line and administration

can access as needed.

District Teaching Staff

Meetings with administration? No. Organize with colleagues. Work directly

with teachers in the school to plan and provide services. Work with district

teaching colleagues to make and implement decisions.

EDI - Early Development Index

Should kindergarten teachers complete the EDI assessments? Yes, EDI

assessments can be completed under the following circumstances:




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1. the assessments are not mandated or distributed through the board, but

are done voluntarily by teachers

2. UBC distributes the materials through the local or through school staff

reps or directly to teachers themselves

3. the assessments are not shared by teachers with school or district

administration, but are returned directly to UBC

UBC, who administers the EDI assessment, has agreed to follow this process.

UBC supports the concept that these assessments are voluntary and has

stopped working with districts who require teachers to participate. UBC has

worked with the BCTF to develop assessment tools that do not incorporate FSA

results.

* MDI (Middle Development Index) assessments are being piloted in 10 districts

starting in February, 2012. The same rules apply.

ESL assessments

Assessments of ESL students (e.g., LOMERA) should go ahead so that teachers

can do Annual Instructional Plans (AIPs) for ESL students and thereby ensure

that these students receive appropriate service and support. This is parallel to

the advice about IEPs.

During phase 1, teachers should not be providing additional documentation

that districts might require for ministry audits of ESL or special educationservices.

Field Trips and Fundraising – (see also „Performances and Events‟)

Field trips and events, including those that raise funds

We are not collecting money from students or participating infundraising.

We are not soliciting funds from students, parents or the community.

We are not completing any paperwork other than the student permission

forms for field trips.We are not meeting with administrators.

We are not participating in the preparation/organization of assembliesoutside of instructional time, or during instruction time unless coverage

is provided.

Activities or field trips that are a required component of a curriculum for which marks are provided or credit is given may continue.




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Activities or field trips that are optional in nature will only occur during

the instructional day, but will include any necessary supervision of students.

Employers may continue extra-curricular activities, for which teachersare withdrawing voluntary services, with volunteers or others to replace

the striking teachers without any contravention of Section 68 of theLabour Relations Code.

Once the strike is over we will not do struck work that wasn’t doneduring the strike.

Under these circumstances, curricular and extra-curricular events, including

those that raise funds, can go ahead, as well as curricular and non-curricular

field trips.

Teacher participation in fundraising events like Cops for Cancer , the Terry Fox

Run , and other extra-curricular activities may continue provided all of the

principles above are observed.

Teacher participation in field trips and events like Me to We, the Writers

Festival and so on may continue provided all of the principles above are

observed.

Food Banks

This is a very common activity in schools during the run-up to Christmas. Our

advice is that collecting for food banks is an extra-curricular voluntaryactivity. Teachers are encouraged to donate and encourage students to donate

to such community drives. If it is being organized through a school program

students can continue to organize the activity. However, in keeping with

previous advice related to external charities, we encourage the collections to be

taken up at the front office or school lobby. Teachers should not participate in

handling money in any way.

Grade 12 Marks

Can you clarify the LRB ruling that says teachers need not turn in class

marks with the exception of any Grade 12 marks required for graduation,

post-secondary applications and scholarship awards? Marks for graduation

need only be provided once the course is completed. Marks for post-secondary

and scholarship purposes should be provided as requested by the student,

counsellor or other person who normally processes these applications.




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Health and Safety Committees

At school level: Teachers will attend school-based health and safety meetings

as per WCB regulations.

At district level: Teachers will not attend district H & S committee meetings.

Do we participate in EPI Pen Training? Yes, if training on EPI Pen use is for

teachers who need it and during instructional time only.

Is a teacher required to do WHMISS training? Yes, but only if it is

customized to meet the specific safety concerns of the teacher’s work

environment and it is done during instructional time.

Is a teacher required to take training related to a safety plan for student?

Yes, the risk assessment and prevention plan is part of WorksafeBC’s employee

safety mandate. If required a member should take the training and it should

occur during instructional time.

Can I take the H & S Committee Training offered for members of the

school-based H&S committee? Yes, the 8 hr training is not the same as

employer in-service.

IEP Meetings

Can I hold IEP meetings with teachers, parents, principal? Teachers will

call IEP meetings to meet with other teachers. If an administrator shows up

(who has not been invited due to providing direct-service to students) the

meeting will be postponed or cancelled if they do not leave. Teachers will

continue to communicate with administrators regarding students with special

needs as necessary and in the best interests of the students. Teachers should

make and implement decisions with their colleagues.

Can I write IEPs and do the paperwork involved in preparing newdesignations? Yes, Under Phase 1, teachers (school or district-based support

teachers) should complete all of their normal duties and processes that arenecessary to get special support for students (school-based teammeetings/IEPs/signatures of parents/etc).

Can we track progress and update IEP goals? Yes.

Written communication with administration? No, the school or district-

based support teacher can file the information in the normal manner. The




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administration can access these files as needed. This may be through BCeSIS,

other online data software or through student files.

Administration signatures on document? No, signatures are not required.

Do I complete 1701s : No, administration completes the 1701 forms that aresent to the ministry to secure funding.

In-service/Training

Can I take the mandated training required for me to accept a position in

DL or other specific position? Yes, if specific skill-training is necessary for a

member to be placed or retained in a specific position BCTF advice is you take

that training as needed. Training should be carried out by members or, in some

instances, IT support workers. Clarification through the local office is

recommended.

International Baccalaureate (IB): Teachers are not to be involved in the

establishment of a new program (application process, etc) or the training that

goes with it. Established programs can continue and associated Pro-D will be

teacher-directed and planned.

Reading Recovery or similar In-service/PD: If the training meets the

guidelines and advice provided in this FAQ under „District Teaching Staff‟

and „Professional Development‟ it is permitted under Phase 1.

Inquiry Projects (e.g. Network of Performance-Based Schools)

Member involvement in Inquiry Projects (not including BCTF‟s PQT) can

continue if the following criteria is met:

Involvement is purely voluntary (not an administrative initiative for theschool).

No administrator involvement in team, organization or communication.

Members are not to attend regional meetings with administration.

Meetings

Can a member meet with administration? No, unless the meeting is for

discipline, evaluation, investigation or grievance purposes and with a staff rep.

Should members continue to attend provincial curriculum or Ministry

Committee meetings during our job action? No.




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Should members participate as part of critical incidence teams called

together by administrators? Yes, if there is an emergency and the team needs

to act, this is OK.

Do members who are appointed by the BCTF to ERAC learning resource

evaluation teams continue to evaluate learning resources? Yes, as long asthey do not meet with school and district administration.

If a teacher is short-listed for an interview for a position, may she/he

attend? Yes.

Are Rehab meetings allowed to go ahead? Yes

Can TTOCs talk to administrators regarding their call out? Yes. This

relates to TTOCs receiving work and they can talk to the administrator about

their assignment.

Can members talk to administrators about workday issues like needing

additional support in a class? Yes, informal discussions can cover this.

Paperwork

Teachers will not exchange with administration any printed, written andelectronic communication other than that acknowledged elsewhere in the FAQor listed below:

Leave of absence forms ...submit to office.

Paper work involved in work experience ...as long as such paper work does

not involve communication with an administrative officer.

Staff email conferences, even if administrative officers are able to read

them ...as long as the communications are between and amongst members.

Violent incident reports and reports of injury (form 6A)

Parent Advisory Committees (PAC)

Can teachers attend PAC meetings? Teachers should still participate in PACs whether a principal happens to be there or not. Parents like to hear directlyfrom teachers and in many cases the message they hear from principals is notour message. This is an important opportunity to connect with parents, and

secure their support.




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Can teachers hand out communications from PAC to students? Yes, if these ‘letters home’ are not administration by proxy or related to fundraising.

Parent Teacher Nights/Interviews

No interviews outside of instructional hours or during instructional hoursunless coverage is provided. Teachers will continue to communicate withparents in a manner they choose.

Performances and Events

Can members participate in performances and events outside of instructional time?

If it is a curricular performance or event it may go ahead under Phase 1 of our job action if the following criteria are met.

The performance is an integral part of the curricular program that allstudents are expected to participate in and is assessed as part of thestudents’ evaluation. (I.e. Two separate classes of a large band arecombined occasionally to create a full ensemble for performance andevaluation.)

Administration completes all necessary forms apart from permission

forms which teachers can send home and collect.

No monies are collected for attendance at the performance as membersare not to participate in fundraising activities.

Teachers accept responsibility for supervision of students during the

event, but may ask parents to assist with supervision tasks.

If it is an extra-curricular performance or event it is considered voluntaryand may continue but there are certain criteria that must be met to fit this

definition, and some limits in our job action apply.

The performance is not connected to the curriculum and students arenot assessed for participating.

Participation is not limited to your class(es); rather, it is club-based orusually only occurs outside of instructional time.

Administration completes all necessary forms apart from permission

forms which teachers can send home and collect.




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No monies are collected for attendance at the performance as membersare not to participate in fundraising activities.

If it is an optional-curricular performance or event (that is, a performance

whereby students can decide on whether or not to participate), it cannot occuroutside of instructional time and must occur during the usual instructionalday.

Professional Development/ Non-Instructional days (NIDs)

Do members participate in professional development activities on PD

days? Yes, if these are professional development activities planned by teachers.

No, if these are activities planned by administrators or the ministry.

Can members attend a professional development activity, including a PDretreat, where an administrative officer is in attendance? Yes, see question

above.

Do I have to do a professional growth plan? Yes, where you are required by

your collective agreement. But, do not submit it to administration while we are

in job action.

Should members participate in PSA conferences on Oct. 21st provincial PD

day? Yes! These are organized by and for members. Teacher-developed

professional development activities are fully supported and a priority of the

BCTF.

Provincial exams for Grades 10, 11 and 12 (see also Grade 12 marks)

Provincial exams and marks for Grades 10, 11 and 12 are impacted by the

following Labour Relations Board (LRB) ruling B132/2011.

Teachers need not “provide any student assessment data to Administrative Officers or the school office, except Grade 12 marks

required for graduation, post-secondary applications and scholarship

awards”.

Teachers need not “administer or supervise FSA or any District or Ministry test (consistent with principle in B418/2001)” .

o LRB ruling B418/2001 says: “Based on the arguments of the parties before me, I order that the administration and supervision of provincial examinations will continue to be provided by teachers




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subject to the Employer utilizing management and excluded staff to the best extent possible to replace teachers for these activities and

subject to the Employer combining students taking the provincial examinations in a larger room, such as a gymnasium, to the best

extent possible.”

Therefore our position is that during Phase 1:

Teachers will not administer or supervise provincial exams, subject to theemployer utilizing management and excluded staff to the best extent possible toreplace teachers for these activities. This also applies to teachers doing the oralportion of language exams. The decision on whether or not management staff isable to administer the oral exam is a decision that should be made at the local

union/employer level before a teacher is asked to administer the oral portiononly.

Teachers will not mark provincial exams.

Provincial Outreach Programs (ie: POPARD)

Can I get ask for the signature of the principal of a school where I am

providing service as required to maintain the special services to

students? Yes, this falls under the LRB ruling on communicating with

administration regarding students with special needs.

A lot of their work involves meetings with teachers, TA's board employees,

and principals. These are not routine meetings with management - theyare tightly scheduled months in advance given that they need to travel to

the locals for consultation. May they continue? Yes, but only if the

consultations are with teachers and not administrators.

Reporting to Parents

Should teachers do report cards? No, but teachers will continue to record

assessment and evaluation data. It is important that teachers continue to

communicate student progress clearly to the students through formative

feedback, marks on assignments, tests and indications about overall progress.

Ways members might communicate with parents on student progress

during Phase 1.

Verbally when meeting informally, face-to-face

A phone call home especially if the student is struggling

Send home assignments or tests for parents to sign and return




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Comments in the students agenda or homework book

Send a note home

Send a quick email message to parents

Explain to parents how they can access their child’s progress online, if

that is an option

It is important that teachers inform parents/guardians if the student isnot doing well so that there are no surprises.

School-Based Team Meetings

Can an administrative officer (AO) attend SBT meetings? This has been

clarified by an order of the LRB. In summary:

Notice is provided to AO of time and place of SBT meeting

AO can request a different time for the meeting

Names of students and agenda, if any, provided to AO

AO may only attend for discussions of:

o Custody issues

o Confidential matters such as Family and Children’s Services issues

o Police issues

o Legitimate safety issues

AO will inform SBT if he/she will attend or what portions of meetinghe/she will attend

If not attending, AO will provide SBT with any information that will assistthe discussion

Any recommendations and minutes of SBT will be provided to AO

AO may request information to ensure proper follow up by AO This SBT order does not require any additional tasks for teachers such

as taking minutes if minutes have never been taken in the past.

School Board Public Meetings

Locals are encouraged to continue to use these meetings to advocate for theirmembers.

School photo organization

Can teachers participate in school photo organization by handing out theinformation packages to students? No.

Staff Meetings

Are we attending any school staff meetings? No, only if it’s an emergency.




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Student Discipline

Is it appropriate to send a student to the office for disciplinary reasons?

Yes, but do not fill out discipline referral forms.

Student-Teachers

A letter has gone out to the Deans of Education outlining our expectation thatstudent-teachers will be expected to comply with Phase 1 of our job action.Sponsor teachers may continue to participate in supporting student-teachersand meet with faculty tutors as necessary.

Teacher in Charge (TIC)

Should members who are serving as “Teachers in Charge” continue their

normal TIC duties?Members may refuse to acdept a TIC position. The LRB

ruling requires members who accept TIC positions to continue their ‘ normal

TIC duties’* when there are no administrative officers in the school. Where

possible, the TIC should continue to comply with our job action requirements.

Members should not volunteer to serve as TICs.

TTOC

Accept phone call out from administrator? Yes

Winter Concerts – (see also advice under „Performances and Events‟)

Can members participate in the organizing and running of Winter

Concerts in the evening? Yes and No, see below.

No: If it is curricular (traditional, school wide, class performances) it should

be held during instructional time.

Yes: If an extra-curricular club is planning a concert it is voluntary activity

and teachers are not required to attend or supervise.

RK11Nov4aRK:cep/jw:tfeu

phase1faqandjobactionplan - 4nov11

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