6. Working Conditions
6.01 PREPARATION TIME
Preparation Time Allocation:
1. Effective Fall Term 2024: The Parties recognize that preparation time allocation is generally a function of school time scheduling. Over the course of the School Year, a School Division will endeavour to normally schedule the equivalent of a minimum of thirty (30) minutes per day of preparation time per full time Teacher. It is acknowledged that some Teachers may have more or all of their preparation time in one (1) semester than another semester provided the equivalent is reached as an average over the School Year.
2. Each School Division shall determine the amount of preparation time that a Teacher in a school shall receive.
3. Teachers will receive preparation time similar to what was provided at the assigned school during the preceding School Year with a variance of plus or minus 3%. There will be a minimum preparation time of one hundred eighty (180) minutes per six (6) day cycle. Effective fall term 2025, there will be a minimum preparation time of two hundred ten (210) minutes per six (6) day cycle.
4. Wherever possible, preparation time shall be scheduled in blocks of not less than thirty (30) minutes.
5. Part time Teachers will be provided preparation time prorated based upon the percentage of their teaching assignment.
Preparation Expectations:
6. It is expected and shall be the responsibility of each Teacher to utilize the preparation time provided to them in a productive, efficient manner towards fulfilling the educational needs of the Teacher’s students. Preparation time is not rest periods nor is it personal time. Teachers shall remain in their assigned school during their preparation time and be available for an assignment, unless they are away on a school-based assignment approved by school administration.
7. Teachers are not entitled to compensatory preparation time nor financial compensation for missed preparation time should they be with students on a field trip or participating in a schoolbased function such as an in-service, professional development day, parent Teacher meetings, school assemblies, staff meetings, union leave, etc.
6.02 LENGTH OF INSTRUCTIONAL DAY
1. The normal school instructional day, exclusive of the midday intermission and the statutory obligation of Teachers to be on duty at least ten (10) minutes before the morning session begins and at least five (5) minutes before the afternoon session begins, shall be five and one-half (5 ½) hours or such time as may be determined by the Minister.
2. The Parties agree that some schools may have a longer instructional day that is based on school time tabling (balanced School Day, or longer transition periods between classes within the instructional day, schools that have to account for bus transportation of students from one school to another). Schools that have a longer instructional day than five and one-half (5 ½) hours as of the first day of this Collective Agreement shall retain their instructional day hours. For such schools the following applies: a) The maximum length of the instructional day in each high school (averaged over the week, Monday to Friday) shall be five (5) hours and fifty (50) minutes. b) The maximum length of the instructional day in other schools shall be five (5) hours and forty-five (45) minutes, averaged over the week if necessary.
3. The instructional day may be revised by the School Division to meet new Department course credit requirements or to comply with statutory requirements.
4. The instructional day does not constitute the entire workday. Nothing in this Article limits a Teacher’s obligation to discharge their professional responsibilities outside the instructional day.
6.03 MEAL PERIOD
1. An uninterrupted meal period of not less than fifty-five (55) consecutive minutes shall be provided to each Teacher between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Exceptions to the above meal period shall be agreed to by both the School Division and the Association.
2. A Teacher’s meal period is determined by the school principal.
3. Principals will be on call during this meal period to deal with emergencies and unforeseen circumstances. If a Principal is unavailable, a designated Teacher(s), may be on call on a rotational basis during this meal period to deal with emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.
6.04 EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
1. Participation in extra-curricular activities by Teachers is voluntary.
2. The parties acknowledge the importance of extra-curricular activities as an integral part of each student’s educational experience.
3. “Extra-curricular activities” means student-related athletic, social, recreational and cultural activities, with the written approval of school administration occurring outside the normal School Day, but does not include activities related to academic or instructional matters or curriculum subjects outside the normal School Day, whether such occur alone or with students, parents or administrative staff, such as (without limitation) staff meetings, parent/Teacher meetings, committee work, in-service sessions, marking and setting examinations, or marking school assignments.
4. An eligible extra-curricular activity is an activity which has received prior approval from the school principal.
5. In any School Year a Teacher shall be entitled to a paid leave of absence of one (1) day provided that they perform fifty (50) hours to a maximum of three (3) days leave for one hundred and fifty (150) hours of eligible extra-curricular duties during a School Year. A part-time Teacher shall be entitled to the equivalent time off as a full time Teacher. The date for such leave shall be agreed upon between the Teacher and the principal.
6. A Teacher who accumulates at least twenty-five (25) hours can access a half (1/2) day up to a maximum of two (2) half (1/2) days in a School Year.
7. A Teacher who accumulates at least fifty (50) hours and where such fifty (50) hours are not accumulated until after April 30th, shall be entitled to carry forward one (1) day of leave into the subsequent School Year to be used by the end of the following School Year.
8. In the event that a Teacher does not accumulate sufficient hours up to a Teacher’s first half (1/2) day (i.e. less than twenty-five (25) hours) to qualify for their leave, the Teacher may carry forward those hours to the following School Year. When a half (1/2) day is earned in the subsequent School Year, the half (1/2) day must be completed and used within that School Year.
9. Teachers authorized to engage in approved extra-curricular activities shall be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket expenses including documented mileage and meal expenses related to such activities as per School Division policy/procedures and/or School Division authorization.
10. Leave requests must be submitted at least five (5) days in advance of the requested leave, whenever possible. Leaves shall be approved by the School Division.
11. School Divisions shall provide direction for the process for how hours are to be recorded.
12. Extra-curricular is subject to the following: a) The School Division is able to find a substitute Teacher; b) Extra-curricular leave will not be accessed on scheduled administrative, professional development or parent/Teacher days unless a special exemption is granted by the School Division.
6.05 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE SUMMER BREAK
1. Teacher attendance at School Division directed Professional Development (PD) sessions during the summer break shall be voluntary.
2. Teachers who attend or provide School Division directed PD during the summer break shall receive, during the following School Year, compensatory time equal to the number of days during the summer break that they attended PD. The method and timing of such compensatory time shall be mutually agreed to by the principal and the Teachers. The details of such arrangement shall be subject to the prior approval of the School Division. This clause does not apply to Principals and Vice Principals.
6.06 TEACHER REQUIRED WORK DURING THE SUMMER BREAK
1. Teachers may be employed during the summer break to carry out such duties for such periods of time as are assigned by the principal or School Division.
2. Teachers shall receive during the following School Year compensatory time equal to the number of days employed during the summer break. The method and timing of such compensatory time shall be mutually agreed to by the Teacher and their supervisor. The details of such arrangements shall be subject to the prior approval of the School Division.
3. This clause does not apply to Principals and Vice Principals.
6.07 STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS
1. A student with additional special learning needs shall be defined as any student needing adapted, modified, or individualized programming and/or learning environments due to a disability,social-emotional, behavioral, language need, or because of giftedness. Teachers who are assigned to teach a student with additionalspecial learning needs have the right to relevant information concerning the student’s circumstances and needs, to the extent feasible.
2. Subject to the School Division’s available resources, as determined in the discretion of the School Division, Teachers who are assigned to teach a student with additional special learning needs may request additional professional learning, materials and resources.
6.08 REMOTE TEACHING
A School Division may direct a Teacher to teach via remote learning. In these situations, the following shall apply:
1. The School Division shall provide the necessary technological resources to Teachers developing and delivering their classes through remote teaching.
2. The School Division shall provide the necessary and appropriate training in the use of relevant educational technology for Teachers to provide learning in a remote environment. 3. Teachers shall not suffer any loss of rights under this Collective Agreement due to the implementation of remote learning.