Page Content
Question: I’m a part-time teacher and I’ve been told that I have a professional duty to attend district inservices, even if they fall on days when I don’t teach. What are my responsibilities regarding attendance at district inservice days or staff meetings and teachers’ convention?
Answer: The answer is found in the
School Act (Section 103(b)) that speaks to part-time teachers being paid “only for the time the teacher teaches.” Your teaching assignment is your
shift, which is a defined time. Any addition to or adjustment of time must be done with your agreement and proper compensation. In simplest terms, whatever is consistent with your assignment for that day is your obligation. If you do not have a teaching assignment for that day, then you are not obligated to attend meetings or events.
Staff meetings and organizational and inservice days are important to the operation of a school; however, a recent arbitration decision stated that part-time teachers can’t be assigned duties on days or at times they normally do not work. The arbitrator also recommended that part-time teachers discuss their assigned duties with their principal at the start of the school year and obtain their schedule in writing. The teacher’s full-time equivalency (FTE) status should be reflected in the agreed schedule.
If a staff meeting occurs outside a part-time teacher’s hours of work, it is the teacher’s responsibility to be informed about what was covered in the meeting. As well, decisions made at the meeting in the part-time teacher’s absence are binding.
Some collective agreements provide additional compensation to part-time teachers for full attendance at teachers’ conventions or other events.
Your professional obligation is not to be confused with your district’s mandates. District inservices educate teachers about district initiatives and priorities. Your obligation to professional growth and development are rooted in your Professional Growth Plan, which is based on your priorities and reviewed with your supervisor colleague (your principal).
Notwithstanding all of the above, part-time teachers aren’t prevented from voluntarily attending events. Part-time teachers are encouraged to participate in staff meetings and PD events. In many cases, teachers and principals will identify important meetings and functions during the school year, and part-time teachers receive time in lieu for attending outside their normal work hours.
Every contract of employment and collective agreement has unique features. For more information, contact the ATA’s Member Services or Teacher Welfare program areas.
Questions for consideration in this column are welcome. Please address them to Gordon Thomas at Barnett House (gordon.thomas@ata.ab.ca).
