// After-School Meetings
Are teachers required to attend meetings after the hours of instruction?
Section 25(1)(j) under Regulations 97-150 of the Education Act whereby teachers are required to attend meetings called by Principals or Superintendents. Teachers are required to attend staff meetings that deal with administrative issues such as scheduling, school policies, school discipline, promotion, or other issues related to the general operation of the school.
The New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation (NBTF) has advised teachers that the activities involving parent-teacher meetings fall within the general description of Article 18.02 of the Collective Agreement, and has accepted that there is an obligation for teachers to attend such meetings if their duration and frequency are reasonable as stated in Article 18.03.
The NBTF would also agree that a meet the teacher meeting at the beginning of a school year requires teachers to be present.
A calendar of the scheduled meetings should normally be distributed to teachers at the beginning of the school year. Teachers should plan ahead and make arrangements in order to attend these meetings.
However, the NBTF has always taken the position that other scheduled meetings, such as PL sessions, math nights, fundraisers, book clubs, etc., called after the hours of instruction are left to the discretion of the teacher.
Article 18 – Hours of Instruction
18.02 The teachers recognize that their responsibility to their pupils and their profession requires the performance of duties that may involve time beyond the hours of instruction described in Clause 18.01.
18.03 Meetings that are held after the hours of instruction shall be kept to a minimum and be reasonable in length.
If you have any questions on this topic, please contact your Labour Relations Officer at 1-888-679-7044.
// Expectations for Work Sent Home During the Pandemic
Given the recent increase in demand for COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students which may delay test results, the New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation (NBTF) and the professional associations (NBTA and AEFNB) have received numerous questions surrounding the expectations of school work to be sent home during these absences and for the students who are part of the vulnerable population and are not able to attend school.
One of the realities faced by classroom teachers is that upon occasion students must be away from classes due to medical reasons. Each classroom and school would have practices and procedures that would guide expectations from home and school when this became necessary. During this pandemic, we would expect these practices and procedures that guide expectations from home and school to remain consistent with pre-COVID-19 standards.
Some frequently asked questions received surrounding the obligations of teachers regarding home learning are listed below.
If parents decide to keep a child at home because they feel it is safer, should the teacher provide material at home?
No, the EECD return to School Plan 2020 indicates that “A non-immunocompromised student whose family has decided not to send him or her to school for any reason or because of the pandemic will be required to complete an Annual Home-Schooling Request Form.”
What are the teacher’s responsibilities for students that cannot attend school due to COVID-19 or any other illness?
There is no change in the obligation of teachers with regards to students who are absent from school due to illness (it is the same expectation as in previous years).
This represents the NBTF’s position. Should you require additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the NBTF or your professional association at 1-888-679-7044.
// Educational Leave
As per Article 37 of the Collective Agreement, an educational leave may be granted to a teacher wishing to devote up to a year’s study or study/travel for purposes of retraining, specialization or professional growth. The deadline to apply for a leave in 2021-22 is November 6, 2020.
The Educational Leave Form is available on the NBTA website.
// Virtual Meeting with Supply Teachers
The NBTF and NBTA are organizing a virtual meeting for all supply teachers in the province. If you are a supply teacher and are interested in joining in the virtual meeting, please register online now by clicking on the following link: https://bit.ly/3jILElk
In preparation for the next round of bargaining, the NBTF sent a call to branches to receive a list of names of members who wish to be considered for the Federation Committee on Terms and Conditions of Employment (FCTCE).
If you are interested in being part of the FCTCE, please contact your Branch President.