Message from the President:

By now all members should have received the latest mailing with Johnson Insurance information. If members are over 50 years of age, the brochure would be entitled "Enjoy Peace of Mind". For members 50 years of age and under, you should have received a brochure entitled "Johnson's Personal Health Plan".

Those over 50 years of age are not eligible for the Health Plan from Johnson. If you are 50 and under and you did not receive the correct brochure and you are interested in a Health Plan, please call me at 705.424.6464 (office) or 705.715.1359 (cell)

Any Occasional Teacher experiencing a shortage of work is asked to give me a call at 705.429.6463 or 705.715.3733... thank you.

It is very important for you to remember...

NEVER...leave students alone
NEVER...touch a student
NEVER...be alone with a student

Reconciled Pay

At the present time the Federation is in discussion with the Board over the interpretation of Articles in the Collective Agreement pertaining to payment for point days. e.g., an OT replacing a teacher that is 1.0, only being paid a portion of the assignment because the teacher came back early or the call came in late through no fault of your own and the Board prorated your pay. There have been cases in the past that when such situations occurred and the Board was notified, they would adjust the member’s pay accordingly to a full 1.0.
It would aid me greatly in substantiation of past practice, if members that have had their pay adjusted in this regard contact me phone 705 429 6463/705 715 3733 or email skipreeves@hotmail.com.

Issue of Keys/Planning Time

It has come to my attention that there are schools across our Board that still do not issue keys to daily occasional teachers. This is in direct contravention to a directive issued by SCDSB's Director of Education, Kathi Wallace. I would greatly appreciate any assistance from you, the members, which would help me identify these schools. The Directive is for the protection of students and staff. I only require school names, not dates...a member’s name will not be used. I strongly encourage you, the members, to help make the schools a safer environment for all by ensuring that the Director’s policy is adhered to.

Planning time is becoming a problem as well; I am seeking the support of members in enforcing your Collective Agreement. Please phone or email with schools where you do not get the time table of the teacher, whether the change is requested by the teacher’s day plan or the principal. As with the issue surrounding keys, I only need to know the schools where it is happening, not dates. Again, a member’s name will not be used. It is important to note that your Collective Agreement does not preclude you from offering your time to assist other staff members where they will still be present. If you accept to take charge of another teacher’s planning time you are responsible for any situation that may occur during that period, even though it was not the job assignment you were supplying for.

If you have any questions regarding these issues please feel free to call me.

AQ Courses

At the recent Representative Council, presidents from across the province were briefed by ETFO, on ETFO’s AQ Course initiative. ETFO will be offering courses at a significant cost savings compared to other institutions. For more information visit the ETFO website found on our Links tab. AQ information will be found under the Professional Services tab on the ETFO site.

If you are NOT getting, or are having difficulties getting, i) the planning time to which you are entitled (timetable of the absent teacher), ii) keys necessary for the performance of your duties at a school (classroom, gym cupboard, etc.) or iii) identity passes, please notify myself at your earliest convenience... thank you.

If you fill out an Aggressive Behaviour Report in a school, would you please make a copy of the report and forward it to me, Skip Reeves c/o SCEOT, 249 Saunders Road, Unit #3, Barrie ON L4N 9A3 as soon as possible after the incident... thank you.

Remember that your College of Teachers fee is now due but that you have until April 15, 2010 to pay it.

We have added a "space" on the P.D. registration page for members to sign up for our Annual General Meeting.

Your bargaining team has worked hard on your behalf to negotiate many gains to the new Collective Agreement and we encourage all members to help ensure that the new Agreement is enforced. To that end, should you encounter any infractions, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the Local's Executive for their advice and action. ( The new Collective Agreement is on the Home page under the menu button marked "Contract".) You should have received a pocket-sized copy of our Collective Agreement for your personal use.

If there is any way in which I may help you, please don't hesitate to call me at:
705.429.6463 (office) or 705.715.1359 (cell)

Yours in Federation,

Skip Reeves, President S.C.E.O.T.