Around OECTA
January 2024
In this issue...
From Your Local Unit
President's Message
Hello Teachers of Hamilton-Wentworth.
We hope you are making your way through the dark days of the year and we’ve made it to the half-way point. A beautiful spring is just around the corner. That’s what I keep telling myself.
Hopefully, the report card season came and went with minimal problems. There didn’t seem to be major issues that were brought to the office. Aspen continues to lack features that would make it more practical and user friendly. We will continue to highlight these deficiencies and encourage the board to raise them with the vendor.
The next central collective bargaining dates have been set for the end of February. It is the first time where 3 consecutive days have been scheduled. This may represent a commitment by the Government and the Trustees’ Association to move towards an agreement. It should be pointed out that although it has been 18 months since negotiations began, bargaining has only occurred for less than 4 months due to the obstinance of the Crown and OCSTA.
The commitment and time given by the provincial bargaining team has been productive even though to some, it may not seem. There has been a focussed and unwavering effort towards a negotiated agreement and I want to acknowledge this.
The email sent on January 10th spoke to issues involving the College of Teachers. Another concern that has bubbled up has been with SSIR reporting and complaints to the college.
As mentioned, unfortunately anyone can lodge a complaint to the college about anything. When members are contacted by the college regarding complaints, the Association will often ask (if appropriate) whether SSIR reporting has been completed. Complete documentation is often the difference between a variety of possible outcomes. SSIR reporting ensures the employer has been included in the documentation of incidences and highlights that teachers have completed their legal requirements. When in doubt, contact the office.
The office has begun preparations for AGM 2024. The executive committee approved the delegates to the AGM in Toronto for March 8-11, 2024. At the AGM, the delegates will be conducting and voting on the business of the Association. Resolutions put forth by many groups will be debated and decided and these resolutions will continue to guide the Association in the future. Here is the link to the proposed resolutions that will be discussed at this year’s meeting. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a particular resolution or group of resolutions, please contact the office.
Please continue the great work that you do as teachers for your students and colleagues. Continue to get involved with the extras that bring you joy.
Continue to feel welcome to contact the office should you have any concerns or questions.
Be well.
Josh
Important Upcoming Dates
AGM Delegation
Each year, delegates from OECTA units across Ontario assemble at the Annual General Meeting, a democratic body shaping the course for the Association. The meeting's objectives include approving the planning and budget cycle and debating by-laws, policies, and procedures. Representatives from OECTA Hamilton-Wentworth contribute their voices and perspectives, ensuring that the decisions made reflect the will of our membership.
In March, a diverse group of professional educators from Hamilton-Wentworth will represent you at the Annual General Meeting in Toronto. Their varied backgrounds and experiences will surely enrich the discourse. A heartfelt thank you to all members who put forth their names for consideration in the delegate selection process. To those not selected this year, your engagement with OECTA is admirable. We encourage you to consider reapplying for the AGM 2025 delegation next year.
The unit executive has selected the following members to represent the Hamilton-Wentworth unit at AGM 2024. We extend our sincere thanks to all for your dedicated service.
Marcia Belgrave
Lori Bell
Gianna Burgio
Mark Calcagni
Patricia Campos-Besu
Joe Clinton
Alison Coyle
Jeannette DiLiberto
Leah Facchin
Larry Finocchi
Diane Giornofelice-Boyd
Stephen Hume
Joshua Mamer
Lia Manganiello
Clarerose Mascarenhas
Lora Merritt
Anthony Salvatore
Sherrie Savelli
Allison Smith
Diane Spadano
Giuseppina Stumpo-Lutz
Margherita Susi
John Vasapolli
Ontario Federation of Labour Rally
After 6 years of Ford's For the People governance, what's become painfully clear to many struggling Ontarians is that "the People" did not include them, and the once venerable public intuitions they relied upon are becoming shells of their former selves - a public trust sacrificed in the name of privatization, lost for future generations. Enough is enough! It is time to stand against the cronyism and corruption of the Ford government. Here's how you can get involved.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Policy convention is taking place at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre on the weekend of February 3. To have the voice of the People of Ontario heard (albeit from the street outside the Convention Centre, dress warmly), the Ontario Federation of Labour is organizing a rally against Ford's agenda of privatization and profit for his people, his donors and powerful corporations.
Whether it be the failure to properly fund education; the staffing crisis in health care; the acceleration of privatization plans; the plan to move Service Ontario locations into multinational private corporate outlets; replacing unionized workers with non-unionized workers; the Greenbelt Scandal; or whatever other Ford boondoggle that floats your fancy, as a collective we, the people, can have our voices heard.
Join us on February 3 in Niagara Falls. Please see the details below.
Where
Niagara Falls Convention Centre
6815 Stanley Avenue
Niagara Falls, ON
L2G 3Y9
When
February 03, 2024
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Visit the OFL website to learn more and to get involved. Through the power of many, we can build a better future for everyone.
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Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Your OTPP and You
Whether wet behind the ears, or a seasoned veteran in teaching, learning about your Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan today can help you plan for your tomorrow. Valued at over $250 Billion CAD and growing, your pension remains fully funded having generated returns of 9.4% since inception - your OTPP is a secure asset upon which you can build the retirement of your dreams.
As a defined benefit pension, the OTPP provides predictability in planning, ensuring that you will have a reliable and consistent source of income in your golden years. What's more? Grounded in socially responsible investment practices, your Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is investing in a future worth living.
Visit OTPP.com to learn more about how your OTPP is investing to make a mark.
The Big Decision
Ask any retired teacher, and they will tell you that the big day snuck up on them, and the decision to take the leap was not made without some trepidation and careful consideration. You're teaching in your first gig, working furiously just to keep your head above water; retirement is the last thing on your mind. You've got an entire career ahead of you, and so many young lives yet to influence in so many special ways. The next thing you know, you're approaching the end of your fruitful and rewarding teaching career, and it all happened in the blink of an eye! Is it the right time to go? Do I have enough money to retire? What else do I need to think about? So many of these questions, and more, are answered for you in your OTPP online account. Check it out today!
Continue Your Learning
Service credit? Defined benefit plan? 85 factor? What's that all about? Join us at Liuna Station on April 9 to learn more about your pension and other financial planning considerations for your retirement. Consider the following links which provide useful information about your pension and other considerations to have before starting your retirement.
Review Your Pension
Update Your Profile
Check Your Buyback
Apply For Your Pension
...and More!
Termination of LTD Deductions
When a member reaches 30 years of pension service credit, their Long Term Disability "caps out," and further LTD deductions become payment for insurance for which they no longer qualify.
There are 3 scenarios where a member would be advised to cancel their LTD payments:
Scenario 1: Eligible for a 60% Unreduced Service Pension
You are eligible for a 60% unreduced service pension now, or
You are eligible for a 60% unreduced service pension within the later of either the next 110 working days or the expiration of your sick leave credits.
Scenario 2: Retirement Date Within the Next 110 Working Days
Your scheduled retirement date is within the next 110 working days and you have notified both the Teachers’ Pension Plan and your board. (Letter required).
Scenario 3: You Have Recently Turned 65
You have reached the end of the month in which you turned 65, or
You will reach the end of the month in which you turn 65 within the later of either the next 110 working days or the expiration of your sick leave credits.
If you meet the criteria outlined in one of the three scenarios above, please complete the Long Term Disability cancellation form and then forward it to the unit office.
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
5650 Yonge Street, Suite 400 North York, Ontario M2R 1M4
Telephone: 416-226-2700 Toronto area
1-800-668-0105 all areas outside Toronto
Fax: 416-730-5349
Email: inquiry@otpp.com
OTIP Financial Planning Workshops
Starting to plan for retirement? This exciting transition also comes with a lot to consider. Join OTIP and Educators Financial Group for a free retirement workshop where you’ll learn more about:
Streams of retirement income and solutions to fill any gaps to help you make the most of your retirement (Pension, CPP, OAS, etc.)
The importance of proper financial planning for your retirement, and what you need to know when creating your estate plan
Managing your healthcare, drug and dental costs by choosing the best coverage to fit your needs. Don’t settle for a “one size fits all” approach to your health
Travelling worry-free with emergency medical coverage, trip interruption/cancellation, and 24-hour emergency assistance
Exciting health and wellness support programs, and ways to save money while doing the things you enjoy most
Protecting your loved ones, your home, and other possessions for when the unexpected happens
This free workshop is open to members and spouses. As a courtesy, refreshments will be provided when possible. Please note any dietary or accessibility requirements at time of registration. You will receive an email confirmation with more details when you register. OTIP reserves the right to cancel an event due to low registration numbers. If you have already registered, you will be notified of a cancellation at least 3 days prior to the event date.
If you have any questions about your registration, please email otipevents@otip.com.
Know Your Rights
Teacher Watch Dog - Ontario College of Teachers
As you know, our professional fees have increased to $200 per year and what do you get for your money? You are paying for the OCT to police teachers, yet only 6 of 12 Council members are teachers and members of the profession. The lowest number found in any similar organization in Ontario. Their own mandate states that they exist to "serve the public interest by regulating the teaching profession to protect students. Yes, this is a direct quote from their website.
OCT Complaints - Social Media
The numbers of OCT complaints reflect the mandate just mentioned. We have seen a sharp increase in complaints made to the OCT. The best case scenario of an OCT complaint is getting pulled into a long, drawn out process and the headache it is to navigate an investigation. However, the worst case scenario is that your teaching certificate is placed at risk, and an OCT complaint could trigger other processes such as an employer investigation, CAS/CCAS investigation or police investigation. Or all of these.
So what does this mean for you? Sometimes a parent is going to be unhappy with your decisions and that might mean they utilize an OCT complaint to make their point. When they do, they are often looking to find proof to corroborate their narrative. Parents will turn to social media to accomplish this. Even if you don't use your full name or if your name has changed, where there is a will, there is a way. We have seen these scenarios presented as case studies at Provincial workshops but it has also happened in Hamilton-Wentworth. It doesn't matter how long ago a teacher posted something, it can be used as evidence against a teacher. We suggest that you do a deep dive into your social media and ensure you remove any post that could be used against you in this manner. Times and tolerances have changed, and so have you, most likely. So go back and review your posted content using a 2024 lens to evaluate it. In addition to this, review pictures that are available publicly. For example, Facebook changed their permissions a while back and profile pictures were suddenly public content. Any picture where you have a drink, a cigarette (or other item) in your hand can, and has been used against teachers. While we feel there should be a reasonable expectation of privacy and an ability to be "off the clock" the OCT doesn't agree. Regardless of privacy settings, posting content is still a public post. You cannot control who someone shares your post with and we have seen this impact teachers in Hamilton-Wentworth on more than one occasion.
Serious Allegations
If you are contacted by your administration, board official, CAS/CCAS or police, now is not the time to tell your life story. As teachers, we are in the business of talking and sometimes we think we can explain a situation and the problem will be resolved. Instead, what you are doing is handing over information that may be used against you later. This is the phrase you should say if you are approached to discuss a situation: "I am willing to co-operate but I must consult with my union or legal council first." This is not an admission of guilt, it is an assertion of your right to representation and advice prior to responding.
Sexual Abuse Prevention Program
Hopefully you have completed this program and if you have, ensure your OCT certificate indicates "Completed" beside it. The OCT has provided school boards with the names of teachers who have not completed the program and are "encouraging" them to ensure compliance. If you requested an extension, you may want to ensure your profile has the notation "To Be Completed" beside it. If you do not have an extension and have not completed the program your profile will state, "Incomplete." Any teacher whose status is "Incomplete" may be contacted by the board. Our office should be copied on any communication and as always, you have the right to consult with your union prior to responding. We expect the OCT will demand an increased level of response from the board if the program is not completed. If you are experiencing difficulties with completing the program please reach out to the office.
Alison Coyle
1st Vice-President
Lead Negotiator/Contract Manager
Health and Safety Corner
Ventilation Guidance
The annual respiratory illness season is well underway, and with at least six weeks to a month and a half remaining of this dreary winter weather, now seems a fitting time as any to review the ventilation precautions and procedures which remain in place as we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. In what is being widely reported as a tripledemic, predictions by public health experts of a particularly active season brings with it a heightened awareness to the importance of good indoor air quality. Whether it be COVID, influenza, pneumonia, RSV, or some other nasty pathogen, by improving the quality of the air we are all breathing, we can help to keep everyone safe from what can be life altering diseases.
Guidance For School Boards
The following are excepts taken from B Memo 11. For full details, please click on the link to read B Memo 11 in its entirety.
School boards are expected to:
Ensure ventilation systems in all schools are inspected and in good working order for the new school year.
Continue inspection and maintenance of ventilation systems throughout the year.
Calibrate HVAC systems for maximum air flow and increased fresh air intake, while recognizing specification and limits of existing systems.
Use highest rated Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) filter that can be accommodated by the system (MERV-13 if possible) and regularly inspect and replace the filters.
Keep ventilation systems running when buildings are occupied, including by support staff and vendors.
HEPA Units
Standalone HEPA unit are expected to be in every kindergarten class, in all learning spaces in schools without mechanical ventilation, and mechanically ventilated spaces that are not supported by MERV-13 filters.
In operating these units, school boards are expected to:
Size the units appropriately for the classroom or learning environment. Larger spaces may require more devices.
Regularly maintain units per manufacture requirements.
For buildings/rooms that rely on natural ventilation/no HVAC system:
Open windows for short times at intermittent intervals, if safe to do so (assess to prevent re-entry of building exhaust). Doing so for a few minutes at a time during the day can still improve air quality, with minimal impact on the indoor temperature.
Assess exhaust systems (review to ensure exhaust air is not re-entering the building e.g., windows, science labs, washrooms) and ensure restroom exhaust fans are functional and operating at full capacity when the building is occupied.
Other guidance:
Do not open windows and doors, if doing so poses safety or health risk to students and staff, e.g., risk of falling, triggering asthma symptoms, exposure to wildfire smoke etc.
Do not prop open fire doors to increase ventilation and/or reduce exposure to frequently touched door handles.
Avoid use of technology or devices that may pose safety or health risks, e.g., commercially available ionizing air cleaners and other unproven technologies.
Avoid direct air flow around people’s breathing zones to reduce respiratory droplets being dispersed from person to person. Rather than air flow at head level, options would be to direct the air upwards or to exhaust room air out of an open window while other open windows draw fresh air in.
The list given above represents only the key highlights from B Memo 11. For greater understanding, please reference the memo directly through this link. Should question arise, please speak to the worker representative(s) on your school's Joint Health and Safety Committee. Through the powers of the JHSC under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workers can get answers to their health and safety questions. The OECTA-HW can also be a source of information to help direct members with questions to the answers they seek. Email Paul or call 905-574-6483 to reach one of us in the office.
HEPA Unit Maintenance
When is the last time that your HEPA unit's filters were inspected? Replaced? Not sure? Your school's Joint Health and Safety Committee will be able to get that answer for you. If a filter(s) is past due for a change, the JHSC will be able to flag the issue for the Plant Department through the monthly inspection report.
Shown in the photo below is but one of many models of HEPA filtration units deployed in the schools of the HWCDSB. Each unit will vary in their manufacturer's requirements for filter changes. Reference to the manufacturer's operation manual will reveal the required schedule of filter changes.
Prefilter (#DMH4-0855):
This must be replaced every 3-6 months.
Carbon Prefilter (#DMH4-0810):
This must be replaced every 3 - 6 months.
HEPA Filter (#DMH4-0400):
Replace every 2-3 years.
To determine the filter change requirements for any given HEPA unit, the model number located on the unit will aid in finding the unit's user manual. If assistance is needed, please consult with your school's JHSC or the OECTA-HW unit office.
Member Opportunities
Provincial Association Opportunities
OECTA Diversity Advisory Board
Applications are now being accepted to fill four positions on the Diversity Advisory Board (DAB), for a two-year term, beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026. Applicants must be members who self-identify as belonging to one or more of the following Indigenous and equity-deserving groups:
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit members
Racialized members
Members with disabilities
Two-spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) members
One applicant from each identified group will be selected to serve on the DAB. They will join the four other members who are in the middle of their two-year term.
The duties of the DAB are to confidentially advise the Provincial Executive on matters related to the needs of their respective groups, as members of the Association, and barriers to engagement and/or involvement within the Association; and to confidentially report on any other matters requested by the Provincial Executive. DAB members will also be non-voting members of the Council of Presidents.
You are encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity. Applications will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on February 12.
OECTA Scholarships, Fellowships, and Bursaries
Post-Graduate Scholarships
Each year, the Association may award three memorial scholarships, named for Rose Cassin, Doreen Brady, and Father J. Harold Conway, to members for full-time post-graduate study. Applications must be submitted by April1st
Fellowships
As well, two fellowships of up to $10,000 each may be available to members for full-time studies in religious education, and one fellowship of up to $10,000 may be available to members for full-time study in labour studies. Applications must be submitted by April1st.
Bursaries
Additionally, the Association may also award memorial bursaries, named for Joan Rogers Kamps, to members for up to $1,000 for studies commencing summer 2024 through to the end of the academic year in 2025. Applications must be submitted by May 1st.
Young Authors Awards
Catholic teachers are proud to sponsor the annual Young Authors Awards/Prix Jeunes Écrivains. The awards celebrate the writing talents and accomplishments of students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, who submit short stories, poems, and nonfiction articles (e.g. reflection or report) written in either English or French.
There are three levels of competition: school, unit, and provincial. The first-place winners at the school level advance to the unit level, and the first-place winners in each unit advance to the provincial competition. A collection of winning entries is published in book form each year
Deadlines for Consideration
February 12 - School Deadline
Submitted to school-level Association rep
February 21 - Unit Deadline
Received at Association local unit office
March 4 - Provincial Deadline
Unit entries received at Association office
Winners are announced in June.
To apply for the 2024 Provincial Selection Committee, complete the application form by February 23, 2023.
Please contact youngauthors@catholicteachers.ca with any questions you may have.
OECTA WebExperiences
What is a WebExperience?
An engaging new approach to professional development. Live and interactive online sessions designed and delivered by teachers for teachers – offering fun and innovative ideas and activities to support your curriculum delivery.
Open to all Kindergarten to Grade 12 Catholic teachers, WebExperience offers bite-sized professional development accessible from anywhere you are (with an internet connection).
Check out our library of archived sessions here!
Creating a Trauma Informed Approach in Classrooms
February 21, 20247:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Register Today!
OTIP Teaching Awards
The Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) are proud sponsors of the OTIP Teaching Awards.
For many years, these awards have recognized the excellence of our teachers in publicly funded education. There are three categories of awards: elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher and beginning teacher in the first five years of teaching. A teacher may be nominated by anyone – professional colleagues, students, parents, or the general public.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 awards. The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 31, 2024. Further information is provided on the attached PDF and is also available at www.teachingawards.ca.
If you have any questions, please contact Jason Healey at OTIPAwards@otffeo.on.ca
It would be appreciated if you would highlight and promote these awards.
Thank you for your assistance in promoting the OTIP Teaching Awards program!
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