705-992-3836 | ac.lt1714055059oa@of1714055059ni1714055059 |
This PRS Matters Bulletin provides important advice for all members regarding managing current events and sensitive issues both on and off duty.
Saturday, May 25
8:30 a.m. breakfast; business to follow
The Water Tower Inn, SSM
Meet your Local Executive and join your colleagues for a complimentary buffet breakfast consisting of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, redskin roasties, and pastries. Everyone who attends will receive a special door prize valued at approx. $50 and there will also be a number of other prizes to win!
As per our constitution, please submit any proposed constitutional amendments to ac.lt1714055059oa@se1714055059rp1714055059 by end-of-day on April 25.
Mileage & Accommodation Reimbursements
Members traveling from out-of-town whose home postal code does not begin with P6A, P6B, or P6C will be provided with a round-trip mileage reimbursement of 25 cents/km. Additionally, members traveling in excess of 150 km to reach Sault Ste Marie will be eligible for up to a $100 reimbursement toward overnight accommodation costs on Friday, May 24.
April 10 is the International Day of Pink, dedicated to standing against bullying, discrimination, and promoting acceptance for all. Wear pink, show support, and spread kindness.
More information and 2SLGBTQ+ resources can be found here.
Intent to Remain Forms must be completed and submitted via the Employee Portal no later than May 31.
The Board will remove anyone who has not completed this annual requirement from the Occasional Teacher Roster.
TORONTO, ON – Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s first National School Food Program. This significant federal investment of $1 billion over five years will provide meals to 400,000 more children every year, beyond those served by existing school food programs.
“By investing in this program, the federal government is demonstrating its commitment to the well-being of Canada’s youth and the nation’s prosperity,” says Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) President Karen Brown. “However, for the program to be successful, the funds must be administered efficiently and effectively. Ontarians cannot afford another failed implementation by the Ford government akin to its mismanagement of federal child care funding, which led to delays and frustration.”
Read more: ETFO applauds National School Food Program, calls on Ford government to allocate funds efficiently
The ETFO Scholarship and Bursaries Program offers financial incentives to:
This includes bursaries for members of designated groups, including Black and Indigenous educators, and bursaries for children of ETFO members.
The application window for ETFO Scholarships and Bursaries is open. The deadline to apply is April 30.
TORONTO, ON – The Ford government has failed Ontario’s students once again by shamefully refusing to allocate new funding to adequately support a high-quality public education system. The following is a statement from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO):
“By once again neglecting to allocate adequate funding in today’s provincial budget, the Ford Conservative government has chosen to perpetuate a crisis that continues to undermine public education. Despite a growing need to invest in Ontario’s education system, the government persists in depriving it of the resources and supports it desperately needs. This callous disregard is a damning indictment of the government’s priorities.
Read more: Ford government fails Ontario’s students once again by refusing to allocate new education funding
Tuesday April 9
4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Water Tower Inn, SSM
It is ETFO’s position that EQAO be eliminated. ETFO believes that ongoing daily assessment by teachers is far more meaningful and effective for students and parents.
All students in publicly funded schools are legally required to write the provincial tests unless formally exempted. In Ontario, there is no legal way to withdraw students from EQAO.
Parents can request that their child not participate in any part of the EQAO testing. More information can be found here.
The Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) has declined the Ministry of Education’s request to support the amendment of the 50-day re-employment rule to 95 days for some retired teachers and administrators for the 2023-2024 school year.
In each of the last three school years, OTF has reluctantly agreed to the Ministry’s request to temporarily increase the limit to help address some of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amending the rule was only ever envisioned as a short-term measure. Deflecting responsibility onto retired teachers is neither a sufficient nor a sustainable option to address staffing challenges. Changing the rule for retired members neither encourages working teachers to remain in the system nor does it attract prospective candidates to join the profession.
Read more: OTF declines Ministry of Education’s request to amend 50-day re-employment rule