The NBTF wishes to share the following important memo received yesterday from DEECD regarding teachers who intend to entertain political activity.
In accordance with the upcoming New Brunswick provincial election later this year, employees of Part II need to take note of the following directive:
“No employee in Part II shall engage in any form of partisan political activity during his/her working hours. Any employee who is contemplating running for public office must apply for and obtain a leave of absence without pay before filing nomination papers. If elected, a teacher shall take a leave of absence from his/her teaching position for one year and resign his/her position of responsibility (if applicable). At the end of that year, the leave may be approved, at the discretion of the Department of Education, until the end of the school term following the next election. If the teacher is re-elected in the next election, he/she must resign from his/her teaching position.”
Here are some clarifications on certain elements of this policy:
- Obtain a leave of absence” refers to the requirement that an employee in Part II must receive authorization for the leave of absence without pay from his/her supervisor prior to filing nomination papers. In the past, practice has often been that the actual period of leave would begin the moment the writ drops until the date of the election itself. This practice is still appropriate.
- If a teacher holding a position of responsibility is elected, he/ she must resign from his/her position of responsibility. If a teacher holding a position of responsibility is not elected, he/she is able to return to his/her position of responsibility.
- Where the directive states “at the discretion of the Department of Education” it is understood that this authority has been delegated to the Superintendent of the appropriate district.
- If a teacher is re-elected in a subsequent election, he/she must resign from his/her teaching position.
For further information, please contact the staff officer assigned to your district at 452-1736 or 1-888-679-7044.