Transition from Work to Rule - FAQs

As of January 24, 2017

ASSESSSMENT

1. Am I required to administer Department or Board mandated assessments for this reporting period?

No, with the phase-out of WTR, teachers are not required to use these Provincial assessments.  Teachers are encouraged to use the exams/assessments they have created for this reporting period, but may choose to use parts of or entire Provincial assessments if they wish.

2. Will I be expected to provide comments and complete learner profiles on the report cards for this reporting period?

No, with WTR being phased out, teachers will not be required to provide learner profiles or comments.  For this reporting period, teachers will provide only a final mark and an exam mark (where applicable).

3. I know that we are not required to input assessments into PowerSchool for the end of first semester. Only semester, exam and final marks are required. Will we have to go back and re-enter all assessments at some point?

The requirement to input marks into PowerSchool is from the Department not from the NSTU. We cannot guarantee that at some point in the future the employer will not change their mind on this issue. 

COMMUNICATION

1. With WTR being suspended, are we obligated to fill out doctor's forms for students who are attending appointments to have medication adjusted or for private psych testing being done at the request of the parents?

Yes, with the conclusion of WTR, teachers are to fill out forms for students requested from outside professionals.  As we transition out of WTR, and in the future, teachers should feel justified in completing the forms in a reasonable time frame.

2. Should teachers be entering attendance in PowerSchool?

Yes, starting with attendance taken on January 23rd and going forward, Boards will expect that teachers enter attendance in PowerSchool. 

3. Our School Board requires all teachers to provide a yearly plan containing all of the activities and assessments we plan to do, along with the outcomes tied to each one of them. We must complete this for every course we teach.  Will teachers be expected to fill out these plans for the second semester?

Yes.  However, discussions between the NSTU and the Department ensure that during the transition and beyond WTR expectations of teachers will be reasonable, including consideration of the type and volume of work necessary, and the length of time required to complete that work.

INSTRUCTIONAL DAY

1. Will I be required to do lunch duty or duty outside of the instructional day (at lunch, prior to or following the 20 minute instructional bell)?

Teachers are contractually obligated to provide supervision during recess or during the 20 minutes preceding or following the first and last instructional bells.  Teachers are not contractually obligated to do duty at lunch.  They may choose to do so, but are under no obligation to do lunch-time supervision.  Boards should develop contingency plans to ensure students are supervised during these periods.

2. Can principals start to schedule PTA or SAC meetings for the upcoming 2 weeks?

Some meetings may resume right away such as IPP meetings. However, during the WTR transition phase schools are asked to schedule one staff meeting in the next two weeks.  Other meetings will be phased in gradually.

3. How many meetings should teachers be required to attend each week or each month?  Is there a limit?  And how long should such meetings run beyond the end of a teacher's day?

Article 62 in your Collective Agreement states that no meetings can go beyond 90 minutes after the instructional day.  There are to be only 2 staff meetings per month.  Reasonableness has to be used when deciding on the number of other meetings to be held.

4. Do I have to do Office duty or take on the temporary role of Teacher in Charge on days when my administrator is away?

No, we need work life balance.  Going back and doing everything we have always done in the past will not accomplish this. You need to figure out what is best for you.  Remember there are many things that you have the absolute right to say no to despite the pressure that others may put on you.

5. Are we expected to be on a certain number of committees?

This decision should be made at the teacher's discretion. 

 

6. How does the request for non-school based specialists occur outside of WTR?

Boards will resume their normal protocols.  Teachers are still able to request the support of non-school based specialists.  However, Boards have been asked to be reasonable with the timing and pace of providing support.

7. With the conclusion of WTR, do NSTU members need to return to collecting money?  Will Boards continue to provide support personnel in schools to complete the task of counting money?

Hiring personnel to complete tasks such as collecting money is a Board decision.  It is our hope that, as WTR is phased out, Boards will work with the NSTU to develop plans to address these non-instructional tasks.

OUTSIDE PROGRAMMING

1. May Student Teacher practicums now take place?

Student Teacher practicums will resume.  This will not likely take place immediately, depending on the circumstances.  Questions concerning student placements should be directed to the school or central office administration.

2. May I resume my involvement in organizing and chaperoning school trips?

Members may (but are not required to) resume or begin the volunteer activities of planning/facilitating/participating in trips for students.

3. May I resume my involvement in coaching school teams?

Members may (but are not required to) participate in extracurricular activities. 

4. May I resume my extracurricular activities such as GSA's, Yearbook etc.?

Please do so at your discretion.  As a result of work-to-rule, you may have decided you no longer want to perform some of the volunteer duties you performed in the past. This again is entirely your decision to make and we need to remain supportive of each other over the coming weeks. Teachers deserve a fair and reasonable work life balance, just like everyone else. Having time to focus on yourself, your friends and your family needs to be a priority.