Wednesday, October 30, 2013

LTO Grievance; LTO pay for holidays; LTOs and unpaid days

LTO Grievance update -
We've been receiving numerous calls regarding where things stand on the Local's grievance regarding the LTO Interview process.  The Board and the Union have met with an arbitrator on October 11th to see if a resolution could be reached. Since that was not possible, we will meet again at the end of this week and our legal counsel will begin presenting our case.
This is a very long process and may take months to resolve. Be assured we are working diligently on your behalf and we are hopeful for an amenable solution for all concerned.  Any new developments will be posted immediately to our TWITTER@etfotvot account and our website which is mobile ready and works on iPads and other computing tablets as well as all smartphones.
Pay for Thanksgiving -
Both permanent Teachers and LTOs are exempt for pay for statutory holidays under the Employment Standards Act.  A LTO receives the same pay as a permanent Teacher with the same years of experience and qualifications would receive, except instead of waiting 12 months to be receive the annual salary, the LTO has their pay divided into 194 teaching days.
Unpaid Days and LTOs -
While December 20th will be an unpaid day for permanent Teachers, LTOs will not lose a days pay but are expected to attend school and will be paid for that day though at this time, I do not know how that day will be filled.
Last but not least - 
Continue to be involved.  Keep informed.  Stay in touch via the Local's website:  www.etfotvot.com.  Attend the upcoming Fall General Meeting on November 13, 2013 at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn and mingle with your peers.  Reports will be presented by Executive Members giving you the opportunity to get answers to questions you may have. Registration for this event must be completed on the Local's website once you have created an account as the sight has a secured area for our members.
As always we ask that you contact the office should you have any questions or require any information.



 
  

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Do's and Don'ts

From CYBERTIPS for Teachers by: CTF (Canadian Teachers' Federation)

The use of technology has increased dramatically in recent years, but the standards of professionalism have not changed.  Remember, nothing is truly private when you communicate digitally.  When you use school board equipment and networks, your employer has access to all your messages and any sites you have browsed.

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities

Activities that can result in disciplinary action against a teacher:

  • Engaging in personal email exchange with students.
  • Engaging in inappropriate conversations about fellow colleagues through email or social networking sites.
  • Criticizing principals, teachers, superintendents, school trustees or school boards - personally or professionally - online.
  • Sharing confidential school board information through the board email system or a social networking site.
  • Visiting inappropriate websites.
  • Sending or forwarding offensive jokes and pictures via email.
  • Downloading audio, video or text-based materials in violation of copyright laws.
  • Using the employer's equipment to engage in activities related to a second occupation.
  • Constant text messaging and/or emailing during school time.
  • Web browsing to sites not related to the curriculum.
  • Posting pictures of yourself, especially if they are suggestive or inappropriate.
  • Posting comments about students, parents, colleagues or administration.
TVOT Website: Don't forget to create your account so you can access our TVOT Local Website.  Accounts are being activated on a daily basis as they are being created.  Go to www.etfotvot.com to get started.  Registration is open for our celebratory Fall General Meeting and Mortgage Shredding Event at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn on November 13, 2013.  It is accessible via the website under Member Services, and Events.  As always, don't hesitate to contact the office should you have any questions or require any assistance in creating your account.





Wednesday, October 16, 2013

It's Gonna Be A PARTY!!!!

We are very excited for our Fall General Meeting and Banquet this year as we have a huge reason to celebrate.  Along with the accomplishments of our members and their continued professionalism and dedication in providing seamless replacement of permanent Teachers in the elementary schools of the Thames Valley District School Board, your President Terry Card and Executive are very pleased to announce our Mortgage burning event.  Due to sound financial and business decisions, Suite 8 at 521 Nottinghill Road in London is an asset of your Local.
Don't forget to register for this exciting event on our Local's website: www.etfotvot.com.  You will have to first, create an account on the website in order to do so.  As always, if you have any questions on creating your account, don't hesitate to contact the office at 519-641-3936.
We ask those who attend to please consider bringing along a children's item to donate that evening to the Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre, which cares for children up to 13 years of age and needs:
  • Warm pyjamas, socks
  • Underwear, all sizes
  • Shoes
  • Pants, shirts and sweatshirts
  • New books
  • Gift cards
  • Movie passes
  • New toys for birthdays, holidays
  • Non perishable food items
  • Art and craft supplies
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste
October Newsletter
The on-line Newsletter for October has been delayed by 10 days because we have had the opportunity to provide a printed copy to you which is currently being prepared for mailing to the membership.




Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Fall General Meeting & Mortgage Shredding Party

Save the Date:  Wednesday, November 13, 2013,  Best Western Lamplighter Inn in London, from 4:30 - 7:30 PM.

All members invited to attend.  The evening will provide, entertainment, free dinner and door prizes for our members.  Further details and registration at www.etfotvot.com.  Don't forget to create your account on our new TVOT Local Website first.

We are pleased with the response we are receiving from our new members and still have some spots left for our meeting where we can discuss and hear your views as to what challenges you are facing so we can advocate on your behalf with the Board, the provincial federation and your colleagues.  If you would like to be part of this project, please email us at mail@etfotvot.com indicating how many years you have been teaching.  We will close registration at the end of this week and advise all participants of the date early next week. The meeting will be scheduled after school at the ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teacher Office at 521 Nottinghill Road in South London.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has set up a new Occasional Teachers Website.  You will be able to access the website through our Local website under Member Services and then Provincial Links.  Alternatively, you can go to: http://www.etfo-ots.ca.


 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Teachers' New Copyright Guidelines

Important news for all Educators
Copyright in schools has changed!  Teachers and students now have new rights and obligations under copyright law.  Know that if you infringe copyright, you, your school, and your school board can be held responsible by the copyright owner for damages.

The guidelines below describe the activities that are permitted under fair dealing in non-profit K-12 schools and provide reasonable safeguards for the owners of copyright-protected works in accordance with the Canadian Copyright Act and decisions of the Supreme Court.

FAIR DEALING GUIDELINES

1. Teachers, instructors, professors, and staff members in non-profit educational institutions may communicate and reproduce, in paper or electronic form, short excerpts from a copyright-protected work for the purposes of research, private study, criticism, review, news reporting, education, satire and parody.

2. Copying or communicating short excerpts from a copyright-protected work under these Fair Dealing Guidelines for the purpose of news reporting, criticism, or review should mention the source and, if given in the source, the name of the author or creator of the work.

3.  A single copy of a short excerpt from a copyright-protected work may be provided or communicated to each student enrolled in a class or course:
 a.  as a class handout;
 b.  as a posting to a learning or course-management system that is password protected or otherwise          restricted to students of a school or post-secondary educational institution;
 c.  as part of a course pack.

4. A short excerpt means:
  a.  up to 10- per cent of a copyright-protected work (including a literary work, musical score, sound      recording, and an audiovisual work);
  b.  one chapter from a book;
  c.  a single article from a periodical;
  d.  an entire artistic work (including a painting, print, photograph, diagram, drawing, map, chart, and plan)    from a copyright-protected work containing other artistic works;
  e.  an entire newspaper article or page;
  f.   an entire single poem or musical score from a copyright-protected work containing other poems or musical scores;
  g.  an entire entry from an encyclopedia, annotated bibliography, dictionary, or similar reference work.

5. Copying or communicating multiple short excerpts from the same copyright-protected work with the intention of copying or communicating substantially the entire work is prohibited.

6. Copying or communicating that exceeds the limits in these Fair Dealing Guidelines may be referred to a supervisor or other person designated by the educational institution for evaluation.  An evaluation of whether the proposed copying or communication is permitted under fair dealing will be made based on all relevant circumstances.

7. Any fee charged by the educational institution for communicating or copying a short excerpt from a copyright-protected work must be intended to cover only the costs of the institution,  including overhead costs.

A copyright presentation especially developed for Teachers can be seen at  www.cmec.ca/copyrightinfo

 Welcome to Our New Website www.etfotvot.com
By now, most of you should have received your September 2013 issue of The Supply Line along with your pocket calendar.  We are very pleased to have been able to get these invaluable communication and professional development tools out to you.  It is very important that you read and might we suggest, hold on to this issue of The Supply Line so you can refer back to it for pertinent details.
On page 2 of the newsletter, is an announcement regarding our New TVOT Local Website.  This website will present both public web pages and a new secure members' site. To access the private, secure portion of the site, members will first have to apply using a personal email address (not a TVDSB First Class email). The site will also permit members to register for events on the secure members' only portion.
To apply, click on "Member Services" and then on "Create a New Account".  Follow the prompts.  When you have saved your information.  We will receive the request at the office and activate your account given all required information is submitted.  You will then be able to register for events, i.e. the Fall General Meeting on November 13, 2013 etc.  The site is Smartphone friendly as well.
If anyone is having difficulties logging in to the new website, do not hesitate to call the office at 519-641-3936 and assistance will be provided.