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As the 2014/15 school year is coming to an end, teachers with principal designations should be reminded that they are entitled to two lieu days. Part of the legislated settlement Assurance for Students Act (ASA), which is effective from Sept. 1, 2012, to Aug. 31, 2016, deals with teacher workload, and a portion of that teacher workload section speaks specifically to how teachers with principal designations will be compensated for the time required to have their school ready to open as per the School Act.
7. Lieu Days for Principals
Effective September 1, 2013, School Jurisdictions will ensure that school-based principals will be granted two (2) paid leave day(s) per school year, at a time mutually agreeable to the principal and the superintendent or designate. Failing agreement about whether the dates are mutually agreeable to the principal and superintendent, the School Jurisdiction shall pay out the unused paid leave days at 1/200th of the principal’s annual salary and allowance by the end of June each year. If current policy or collective agreement provisions are equivalent or superior, this provision will not increase the number of days available. However, all principals will have access to a minimum of 2 days with payment for days not utilized.
Principals and school boards should be reminded that principals should use these lieu days at a time that is “mutually agreeable” to the principal and the superintendent. If no time is mutually agreeable, then principals shall be paid 1/200th of their annual salary and allowance by the end of June for each day they did not use. Principals who are paid out for either one or both of these days are reminded that this is not pensionable service.
As the ASA will expire at the end of the 2015/16 school year, most principals will no longer receive these two lieu days unless these benefits were successfully negotiated into their collective agreements on an ongoing basis during local bargaining. Principals who have any questions regarding the two lieu days should contact Teacher Welfare at 780-447-9400 or 1-800-232-7208. ❚