Good morning,
Please see the following Announcements below and their deadlines to apply. Please take special notice of the deadline for the Nominations and Local bursary dates. The attachments for Nominations were sent out to Reps last week as its own separate email.
Also, a reminder that the next local meeting is set for May 8th at 5.30pm at the Legion in Lower Sackville as there will be a large section for speeches and Q&A. At that meeting you will have an opportunity to meet with the 5 candidates to be your next NSTU Provincial President.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting dates
The Halifax County Local General Meeting dates are as follows:
May 8
June 5
*Meetings are held at 6pm (5:30 supper) at the Legion in Lower Sackville.
Bursary News
Applications for the Halifax County Local Bursary are now open. Here is the link to the Google Form https://forms.gle/yvqGU1KocPuCw2cz9 . This link will also be posted on our social media and local website. Halifax County bursaries are given to the children/stepchildren of Halifax County Local members (not PSAANS members) who are currently (2023-2024) teaching in a term or permanent position. Applicants must be graduating from High School in June 2024. This bursary must be used for enrolment in secondary education in September 2024 and cannot be deferred to another school year. The amount received by each recipient will be dependent on how many applications are received in total. The deadline for application is Friday, May 24th, 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified by email after the deadline. Due to confidentiality, all correspondence will be between the applicant (not a parent) and the Halifax County Local Treasurer only. Applicants are responsible for keeping the confirmation notification that is received once the Google form is completed. Successful applicants will be asked to supply their Confirmation of Enrollment for a September 2024 start by September 27th, 2024 to receive the funds. Failure to submit the required document by the deadline will forfeit the funds to be shared amongst the applicants who completed the requirements.
It is in your Provincial/Regional Agreement
Provincial
ARTICLE 63 CLASS CLIMATE
63.01 The parties under this Agreement recognize the educational desirability of having classroom climate conducive to creating conditions under which teachers are able to carry out their duties pursuant to the Teachers’ Provincial Agreement.
63.02 A teacher who considers that her/his class climate is inconsistent with Article 63.01 may report the facts of the situation in writing to the Principal who shall investigate, take appropriate action, and report in writing within ten (10) school days to the teacher the action taken.
63.03 If the Principal is unable to resolve the concerns of the teacher, the teacher and/or Principal may report, in writing, the facts of the situation to a Classroom Climate Review Team. A Classroom Climate Review Team shall be comprised of a representative designated by the Regional Executive Director/Superintendent, and a representative designated by the Union.
63.04 The Team shall meet with the teacher and the Principal within ten (10) school days to review the teacher’s written concerns. The teacher may be accompanied by a representative of the Union.
63.05 The Team’s considerations shall include but not be limited to: (i) the physical limitations of the instructional area; (ii) the resources available to the classroom; (iii) the range of educational and behavioural needs of the students in the teacher’s class.
63.06 The Team shall examine all options available within the Education Entity and make recommendations within ten (10) school days of the meeting with the teacher and the Principal or such longer period as may be agreed by the Union and the Director. The recommendation(s) of the team shall be reported to a Director determined by the Regional Executive Director/Superintendent, with a copy to the teacher and the Principal.
63.07 The Director will review and assess the recommendation(s) of the Review Team and will report back within ten (10) days to the Review Team to identify which recommendations will be implemented, if any, and will provide status updates when accepted recommendations have been implemented. The Director’s decision as to whether or not to implement the recommendation(s) is final and non-grievable.
63.08 The parties recognize the sensitive nature of class climate issues, and accordingly agree that the process is to be kept confidential.
NSTU Benefits at a Glance
In-Province Teacher Exchange Program
The In-Province Teacher Exchange Program was initiated to provide a mechanism for teachers to experience new work environments through alternate teaching assignments in different geographical settings. Such work experiences may be beneficial to the professional growth of NSTU members by providing new challenges and opportunities in their teaching careers.
Background
The In-Province Teacher Exchange Program has been in existence since the 1983-1984 school year. The program was negotiated on behalf of teachers between the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the Department of Education. Official documentation of the program is found in the Teachers’ Provincial Agreement, Article 40 “In-Province Teacher Exchange Program.”
Application Procedure
Click here to access the In-Province Teacher Exchange application form (Word / PDF) or contact the NSTU: 1-800-565-6788 or by email: contractinfo@nstu.ca.
Forward the completed form to the NSTU Central Office by January 15 in any school year. Forms should be directed to:
Supervisory Committee
In-Province Teacher Exchange Program
Nova Scotia Teachers Union
3106 Joseph Howe Drive
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3L 4L7
or electronically to: contractinfo@nstu.ca
Selection Process
A Supervisory Committee made up of representatives from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is mandated to review all applications and make decisions regarding the status of each application.
Criteria used in the selection of exchanges are as follows: similar teaching positions; similar teaching experiences; similar teaching qualifications; similar extracurricular interests and complementary geographical site selection.
Conditions
- Exchangees will remain in the employ of their own employer and will continue to have their salaries remitted to them while on exchange.
- Notwithstanding Condition 1 above, exchangees shall acquaint themselves with conditions of employment of the host employer, and shall agree to abide by same. In the event of a disagreement concerning the conditions of employment, the exchangee shall be bound by the decision of the Supervisory Committee.
- The applicant must be genuinely interested, fully intend to accept an exchange if a suitable one is offered, and be able to adapt to conditions in the new environment. The applicant must be able to furnish a medical certificate to the effect that the applicant is in good health and free from any condition likely to impair the applicant’s mental or physical activity as an exchangee.
- Exchangees will be encouraged to exchange living accommodations with their counterparts, but all travel and living accommodation arrangements and costs are solely the responsibility of the exchanging teachers.
- The applicant must agree to return to the employer from which the applicant came for a full year after service in the other employer.
- The term of the exchange shall be one (1) year. Any extension beyond one (1) school year shall be possible only with the approval of the participating employers. The exchange may become permanent with the approval of the two (2) teachers and the consent of the participating employers.
- Exchanges are organized on a position-to-position basis, and the exchange cannot occur without the approval of the two (2) employers concerned.
- The exchangee is guaranteed the exchangee’s original position subject to the provisions of the Local Agreement upon return to the employing employer.
- The exchangee must possess a valid teacher’s certificate.
Important Dates
January 15 |
Application Deadline |
March 10 |
Target date for notification of successful exchangees |
In the event of any conflict arising between the contents of this page and the Teachers’ Provincial Agreement, the Agreement shall prevail.
For further information contact:
email: contractinfo@nstu.ca
Take care,
Shawn Hanifen