Monday Memo – February 6, 2012
MEMO TO: Staff Reps
COPIES TO: STA Executive Committee
FROM: Denise Moffatt, President
Date: February 6, 2012
Bargaining update
On Friday, BCPSEA failed to show for a scheduled bargaining session. On Twitter they have said they are available to meet but only if the BCTF is willing to talk about the BCPSEA proposals on the table which are predominantly concessions. Local Presidents have been called in to meet on Thursday to discuss this situation as well as the February legislative session. Staff reps should monitor their email regularly this week.
To view our last offer go to:
http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Publications/NewslettersAlerts/BargainingBulletin/2011-12/BB5-Jan2012.pdf
For information about teacher salaries
http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/BargainingContracts/U102-SalaryDocument.pdf
Minister of Education to visit Surrey this week
We have just heard that the Minister of Education, George Abbott, will be visiting Surrey schools this week. We will be planning a response to coincide with his visit. More details to come.
Last Day for Semester 2 start up is February 8th
Reminder to teachers and counsellors in secondary schools that the last day for semester 2 class organization is Wednesday, February 8th. Members will not be participating in class organization meetings (not including Bill 33) or completing course change data entry after that date.
Bill 33 meetings
If your class is over the Bill 33 limits, please attend a Bill 33 meeting. If you do not agree that your class is appropriate for student learning, you should indicate this clearly to your principal at the meeting. Class size reporting and grievance forms are attached. Please complete and submit to the STA office.
The Green Teachers Meeting will be held on February 9th, 3:30 – 5:00 pm in STA Office Board Room #2.
BCTF Executive Elections
You may have heard in the news about the upcoming BCTF elections in March. Normally there isn’t a lot of press about the elections but this year there is a challenge for the top spot. The challenger’s bid has provoked a lot of discussion and even some controversy. It appears that the media is using the challenge to try to exploit a chink in our amour, so to speak. Members should be aware of the situation given the amount of media coverage the story has received.
Locally, Denise Moffatt will be running for a second term as Member-at-Large. She has a facebook page to support her candidacy. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Denise-Moffatt-for-BCTF-Member-at-Large/347822668571842
February is Black History Month
Did you know that Canada’s last segregated school was closed in Nova Scotia in 1983? Are you looking for profiles of people and events that signify Black History in Canada? Are you interested in learning about significant events in Black Canadian History from 1600 to the present? If so, check out this website and online resource guide dedicated to providing information to teachers and students about Black History in Canada:
http://www.blackhistorycanada.ca/index.php?lang=en__Attachment
Day of Pink on February 29th, 2012!
This is an excellent time for teachers to highlight the harms of homophobia and transphobia in schools and actively teach about acceptance of LGBTQ students and same-sex families.
The Day of Pink is also a great time to promote the need for a discrete LGBTQ policy in Surrey. If you are interested in helping work on creating a discrete LGBTQ policy, please contact the STA office. Currently, 15 school boards have policies. Prince George District Teachers’ Association made a presentation to their trustees at the end of January and three more locals are preparing presentations for their boards before spring break. To view the current policies in BC go here:
bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=17994
Below are some places where you can find useful resources for having conversations about the true origins of the Day of Pink in your classrooms. Please publicize these through your local networks.
Day of Pink resources for February 29, 2012: http://bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=17998
Other LGBTQ resources can be viewed here: http://bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=17992
Note that the date for the Day of Pink in BC is different than the date in the rest of Canada.
Other upcoming dates to note:
Friday, April 20, 2012 – Day of Silence: Day when hundreds of thousands of secondary students across North America take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 – International Day Against Homophobia: Marked in many countries as a time to speak out against homophobia and transphobia in schools and society.
May 14–18, 2012 – BCTF Week Against Homophobia: A week when the BCTF asks teachers to open the discussion in their classrooms to the challenges and strengths faced by LGBTQ people.
Ad in 24 Hours Newspaper
The STA has joined with other lower mainland locals to run an ad in 24 Hours Newspaper opposing the Fraser Institute Rankings of schools. A copy of the ad is attached.
STA Convention May 3rd, 2012 - see attached Sneak peek.
Consolidated Pro D funds
There are funds available for teachers to attend professional development activities through the consolidated funds. If you have not used consolidated funds in the last three years, you may apply using the attached form.
International Women’s Day – Notice of the Surrey event is attached.
Alliance Francaise Cultural Events – attached notice
There are a number of French language events coming up, check out the notice that may be of interest to teachers.