// Storm Days

The Federation regularly receives questions related to storm days.

When schools are closed due to inclement weather, do teachers need to report to work if an activity (e.g. professional development training) had already been planned?

According to Article 16.03 (a), if schools are closed due to inclement weather and an activity was scheduled for that day, teachers are not required to report to the activity no matter where it was to take place.

What is the situation for a teacher who is on leave when schools are closed due to inclement weather?

The NBTF and the Employer have agreed on an interpretation for a teacher who is on sick leave at a time when the school is closed because of inclement weather.

If a teacher requested a sick day because of an illness or an injury, but schools were closed due to inclement weather, a sick leave day would be deducted. However, if a teacher was approved a sick day for a medical appointment on a storm day, they will not be deducted a sick leave day as agreed by EECD in June 2017 in the settlement of the Absence Management Program Grievance.

For any teacher who is on sick leave both on the day before and on the day after a storm day, it is assumed that the teacher would not have been at work on the storm day. That day will then be deducted from the teacherʼs accumulated sick leave.

What about other situations where a teacher had already requested a leave?

If a school closure occurs on a day where a teacher was approved for paid leave (such as Educational Leave, Family Day, Bereavement Leave, etc.), the absence cannot be modified unless there are exceptional circumstances.

For teachers who had requested a leave without pay, it is expected that the day would not be paid. In such cases, the Employer would have already accepted to grant a leave but the condition at the outset was that it would be without pay.

Essentially, a storm day cannot make it such that a teacher would be in a better financial position than if the school closure had not occurred.

Are substitute teachers paid during a storm day?

Article 61.08 indicates that a substitute teacher who teaches more than ten (10) consecutive teaching days in the same assignment in a school that is closed due to a storm will be paid for that storm day in accordance with Article 16.02 of the Collective Agreement provided that the storm day occurs during the assignment.

For any questions related to storm days, please call a member of the NBTF administrative staff at 506-452-1736 or 1-888-679-7044.

// Turnaround Days and Report Cards – Articles 36.12 and 36.13

All K–8 teachers shall be allocated the equivalent of one day free of instruction and supervision per school year for the preparation of report cards. The parties agreed that if the school is closed pursuant to article 16.02 (a) or (c) during one of these days (or applicable half-days), the day will not be lost and shall be replaced at a later date within the school year.

All 9–12 teachers shall be allocated two days free of instruction and supervision between semesters for transition. In the event that the school is closed pursuant to article 16.02 (a) or (c) during one or both of the turnaround days, the day(s) will not be lost and shall be held when the school reopens.

For any questions related to these days, please call a member of the NBTF administrative staff at 506-452-1736 or 1-888-679-7044.