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aa, 12- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 2, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Teachers, board debate impact of funding figures By Rik Davie Port Perry Star A full page ad purchased in last Friday's Weekend Star by area teachers has further fueled the debate over new education policies. The ad, which includes pictures of teachers their union says are threatened by cutbacks, claims that student activi- ties could be brought to a halt and that curriculum will suffer if teachers are moved around and forced to teach extra classes next year. Dave Robinson, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) spokesperson for teachers at Port Perry High School, says that forcing teachers to work the equivalent of an extra class a day is not necessary, and may threaten many extracurricular activities students Now enjoy. "Durham has been targeted by the Ontario Public School Boards Association to lead the way," he said. "They view it in the domino theory; that is, if Durham falls, then all the boards will follow." Mr. Robinson doesn't think it's a coincidence that changes are being implemented when Durham teachers are negotiating a new contract with the Durham Board. He hinted pres- sure is being put on the member- ship through tac- tics such as noti- fication of teachers who have been declared redun- dant. "The board said they had to notify teachers who might be laid off even before the figures were all in," said Mr. Robinson. "Well, that's a load of bunk. I saw it as a bit of a scare tactic. "Other boards did not do this. Other boards didn't leave their teachers hang- ing," Mr. Robinson said. Gord Wilson, superintendent of staffing with the Durham board, thinks that teachers are angry with the board for implementing policies they knew long ago were coming. "They have known since the passing of Bill 160 that cuts were possible in staffing," he said. "We are holding those cuts to a minimum, maybe even to none. Dave Robinson "We appreciate the job our teachers do," added Mr. Wilson. "Anyone who thinks that we have anything but the best interests of our teachers and stu- dents at heart is mistaken." As for claims that the new teaching hours will save the board up to $10 mil- lion next year, Mr. Wilson said the figure is not representative of existing board money. "It will reduce teaching costs by around $10 million, but that's $10 mil- lion we never had in the first place," he said. "That's money that we would have had to go out and find if we had not made changes; it's money that would have come out of other programs." Mr. Wilson also said that only two of the teachers pictured in the ad, which shows 11 teachers who will not be back to Port High next year, are in any danger of not working next year. He said the adjusted work load for teachers is simply the outcome of edu- cation ministry policy which the board has to deal with. But asking teachers to work longer hours is not something Durham area OSSTF representative Pat Jermey is about to accept. "We are presently short 140 teachers according to our teacher to student ratio figures, as spelled out in our pre- sent contract," she said. Ms Jermey said that if teachers are asked to teach the equivalent of another class per semester there will be burn- out among staff. "You have to remember: When you have one more class of say 22 students on your time-table that is 22 more reports to ark 22 more term tests to prepare and then mark another class to prepare programs and activities for," she said. "Well, something will have to give when you consider that average teachers are putting in a 44-hour work week, and averaging four to five hours of extra activities as well. "With what the board proposes, teach- ers would be looking at a 45 to 50-hour week without any extracurricular activ- ities," Ms Jermey said. "That's a recipe for burn-out among teachers. "I will not condone that and I will not allow it in the new contract. It's that simple." When asked if local teach- ers were prepared to resort to some type of job action in the face of the boards proposals, Ms Jermey simply said, "Yes-- yes they are. Iris show is coming up NY £0) 81S 800070) § Day Care Centres Inc. 399 Queen Street, Port Perry 985-0800 Open 6:30am to 6:00pm Call Karen for more info 985-0800 MARKHAM CANADA'S COUNTRY} [_ SCUGOG FINANCIAL | NAY (01 0 AY OF Rates subject to change without notice 250 0 Queen Street, Port Perry e (next to Shoppers Drug Mart) "Serving Scugog For Over 15 Years" 985-3832 The Brooklin Horticultural Society will hold its Iris Show and gen- eral meeting at Burns Presbyterian Church. held June 15 starting at 8 p.m. The guest speaker will be Elizabeth Forester speaking on Growing and AARNE f- SW em Nea bs LW Fs oN The church is located on Using Herbs. ® ° ° ® > Annual Rates ® Myi/s Road in Ashpurs ; Lug-a-Mug for refresh- g will be ments. 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