The Alberta Teachers’ Association

This agreement is made in quintuplicate this 16 day of November AD 2000, pursuant to the School Act and the Labour Relations Code .

Between the Board of Trustees of Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No 14, herein called "the Board" and the Alberta Teachers' Association, herein called "the Association," acting on behalf of the teachers employed by the Board.

THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:

1. During the currency thereof, this agreement shall be applicable to all teachers employed by the Board under engagement pursuant to the School Act except superintendent, associate superintendent(s) and director of human resources.

2. This agreement shall have effect from September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2001.

2.1 Notwithstanding the termination of this agreement, if notice has been given to commence collective bargaining, the terms and conditions herein shall remain in full force and effect until otherwise altered through collective bargaining or until irreconcilable impasse occurs in collective bargaining, whichever occurs first.

3. Request for revision - Notice in writing may be given by either party during the period March 15 to May 1 prior to the expiration of the agreement requesting negotiations for revisions or amendments to this agreement.

3.1 At the first meeting between the parties following such notice, the parties shall provide each other with a memorandum outlining proposed changes.

3.2 Failing notice being given as specified in clause 3, this agreement shall continue in force for a further period of 12 months.

3.3 The two parties may at any time, upon their mutual consent, negotiate revisions to this agreement. Any such revisions mutually agreed upon shall become effective from such date as determined during the course of negotiations.

4. Salary Scale

4.1 All salaries and allowances referred to herein are in respect of a school year unless otherwise specifically stated. "School year" shall be defined as the period September 1 to August 31.

4.2 The evaluation of teacher education for salary purposes shall be according to the policies and principles established by the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board (TQS) established by the memorandum of agreement among the Department of Education, the Alberta Teachers' Association and the Alberta School Trustees' Association dated March 23, 1967 and as amended from time to time.

4.3 Teachers who have not taught within the preceding 10 years of date of commencing employment shall be allowed one increment on the salary grid for every two full years of experience to a maximum of six increments.

4.3.1 Notwithstanding clause 4.3, a teacher who has successfully completed upgrading courses acceptable to the Board and the superintendent of schools, within two years preceding hiring, may apply for reinstatement of lost increments on the basis of one increment per one approved course to a maximum of all previous experience, as allowed on the grid.

4.4 For the period of September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2001, the salary grid shall be as follows:

				Four	Five	Six
0				35,114	37,302	39,767
1				37,283	39,471	41,940
2				39,458	41,646	44,115
3				41,622	43,827	46,292
4				43,810	45,990	48,467
5				45,979	48,173	50,649
6				48,161	50,349	52,818
7				50,336	52,524	54,993
8				52,512	54,693	57,156
9				54,680	56,874	59,344
10				56,831	59,026	61,489
11				59,308	61,489	63,965

4.5 A career and technology studies (CTS) teacher is a person offering at least half-time instruction in his/her area of trade qualification.

4.5.1 Career and technology studies (CTS) teachers holding a journeyman's papers or equivalent in a non-designated trade will be placed at 4 years education, 0 years experience, or higher, if his/her TQS evaluation allows.

4.5.2 Industrial trade experience to be defined as industrial experience in the field of speciality. This will apply to those CTS areas where special training is necessary to meet the needs of students enroled in courses leading to journeyman or trade ticket status, where journeyman's papers or equivalent was a condition of employment, for teachers employed by the Board after August 30, 2000.

4.5.3 Total experience to be all full years trade experience. Experience to be paid for the last five years of trade experience plus 1/3 of all previous industrial trade experience as defined above. In the event of a major fraction of a year of experience, the calculations to be taken to the next higher year.

4.6 The salary of a teacher as calculated under clause 4.4 of this agreement shall not be less than the amount payable immediately prior to the effective date of this agreement.

5. Administration and Supervision

Additional allowance for administration and supervision shall be paid in accordance with the following clauses:

5.1 To certificated persons designated as principal or assistant principal, the following allowances shall be paid:

5.1.1 A principal of a school will be paid the following allowance:

The count of students in a school shall be made on the 30 day of September.

5.1.2 To an assistant principal, 60 percent of the principal's allowance.

5.1.3 Notwithstanding the allowance schedule outlined in 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 an in-school administrator who is transferred at the Board's discretion shall be entitled to an administrative allowance not less than the one he received prior to the transfer for a period of two years. If a designation is terminated, the administrative allowance will be red circled for two years.

5.1.4 After more than four consecutive days' absence of a principal or assistant principal the teacher appointed to act in his place shall be paid retroactive to and including the first day an allowance equivalent to that of the administrator being replaced for the further duration of such absence or until a regular appointment is made.

5.1.5 Minimum administrative appointments shall be as follows:

(a) Assistant principal at 10 teachers.

(b) Additional assistant principals shall be appointed upon the request of the principal where, in consultation with the superintendent and Board, the superintendent and Board deem it necessary.

5.2 To certificated persons designated as directors an allowance of $19,531 and to certificated persons designated as assistant directors an allowance of $14,547.

Directors and assistant directors shall work a 12 month year and shall be entitled to an annual vacation of 30 working days exclusive of statutory holidays. The dates of the annual vacation shall be as mutually agreed between the superintendent and the director and the assistant directors.

5.3 The Board shall pay to each certified teacher appointed by the Board to the following listed positions, the allowance respectively set forth opposite each such position, namely:

Supervisor - $12,198

Consultant - 8,859

Project Coordinator - 2,035

The in-system coordinator shall receive the same proportion of the consultant's allowance as his/her coordination time relates to his/her total assigned time. As an example, if a coordinator is allotted 0.6 FTE coordination time, he/she will receive 0.6 times the consultant's allowance.

5.4 Any person appointed to the positions set out in clause 5.3 working less than full-time in this position shall receive an allowance prorated in accordance with the time allotted by the superintendent of schools.

6. Additional Allowances

6.1 An additional allowance shall be paid according to the following schedule provided that such allowance shall be inclusive of any other allowance in respect of administration.

6.1.1 An allowance to a maximum of $4,769 to designated coordinators of instruction at all grade levels who may be appointed upon the request of the principal to the associate superintendent (human resources). This allowance shall be calculated as follows:

$108 for each course (not class), plus $93 per teacher, excluding the coordinator, teaching at least one full course in that subject field, with a minimum of $1,550.

6.2 To all teachers assigned to more than one school and where the schools are not located on the same campus, an allowance of $561 shall be paid.

To all teachers assigned to more than one school located on the same campus, an allowance of $422 shall be paid.

7. Application of Salary Schedule and Payment of Salary

7.1 In order to establish an entitlement to salary and additional allowances as provided by 4.2, 4.4 and 4.5, the teacher shall be responsible for supplying the associate superintendent (human resources) not later than December 1 with:

(a) A statement of qualifications from the Teacher Qualifications Service or any other service authorized by the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board.

(b) A statement regarding length of teaching experience from previous employers or a statutory declaration from the teacher.

(c) A statement of special qualifications if required for clause 4.5 of this agreement.

7.1.1 A teacher engaged after the first day of the school year shall furnish such information and proof within three months of commencing service with the Board.

7.1.2 If a teacher submits such proof after the designated date (under 7.1 and/or 7.1.1) any adjustments in salary shall take effect from the first of the month next following the month of submission unless the delay of the submission of proof is beyond the control of the teacher in which case payment will be retroactive to the beginning of the school year or commencement of employment.

7.1.3 For the months of August, September, October and November, any teacher supplying to the associate superintendent (human resources) an Alberta standard or an Alberta conditional certificate, an Alberta provisional or an Alberta professional certificate will be paid $33,645 and an Alberta bachelor of education degree will be paid on a minimum of four years of teacher education.

7.1.4 As of December 1 or three months after commencing service with the Board and continuing until any adjustment of salary shall take effect as per clause 7.1.2, a teacher who has not submitted proof of education as per clause 7.1 and 7.1.1 will be paid $33,645.

7.2 A teacher holding a letter of authority shall not, until he submits proof of holding a permanent Alberta teaching certificate, receive increments for more than three years of teaching experience, provided always that no teacher holding a letter of authority and currently on staff shall receive less salary than he/she received under the immediately preceding agreement.

7.3 For the purpose of filling a specialized teaching position and/or a specialized supervisory position, the Board may, at its discretion in the interests of the educational system, from time to time engage a teacher at a salary step higher than provided by the salary scale in the terms of this agreement for his experience, although not higher than the maximum provided for a teacher of his teacher education as evaluated under clause 4.2 and 7.1 (a). In such case the Board shall, without delay, notify the secretary of the economic policy committee of the Elk Island Public Schools bargaining unit.

7.4 A teacher shall, for the purposes of placement on the salary grid, be deemed to have earned an additional year of teaching experience upon a teacher having rendered active service with the Board for not less than the equivalent of 130 days of active service. The additional teaching experience earned hereunder shall not be credited to a teacher until the commencement of the next school year or the first day of February in that school year, whichever date occurs first, after a teacher is deemed to have earned an additional year of teaching experience. In the event that a teacher has rendered more than 130 days of active service since being credited with their last increment, a teacher shall not be entitled to apply any days of active service in excess of 130 days to the earning of an additional increment.

7.4.1 A teacher wishing the Board to recognize experience earned with a previous Board shall provide to the Board written confirmation from the previous Board certifying the experience earned. The written confirmation shall establish the teacher's placement on the salary grid and shall certify the experience which would have been recognized by the previous Board had the teacher returned to active duty with that Board.

7.4.2 In addition to the foregoing, the previous Board shall certify that the teaching experience of a teacher earned with the previous Board and recognized by it was earned and recognized while the teacher was in possession of a valid teaching certificate. The written confirmation referred to herein shall be signed by the designated officer of the previous Board or institution.

7.4.3 At the discretion of the Board, teaching experience earned with a previous Board which has not been recognized by the previous Board may be recognized by the Board as partial fulfilment of the number of days of active service required to be rendered by a teacher with the Board in earning an additional year of teaching experience.

7.4.4 For the purpose of clauses in this section, teaching experience shall include the following:

(a) Days under contract (continuing, interim and temporary) to a Board in a position which requires a teaching certificate as a condition of employment, excluding leaves of absence without salary and vacation periods.

(b) Days taught for the Alberta Distance Learning Centre.

(c) Days taught in a post-secondary institution following teacher certification.

"Active service" where used in this article shall mean operational days.

7.4.5 For the purpose of clauses in this section, teaching experience shall include substitute days effective September 1, 1996.

7.5 Save and except substitute day-to-day teachers, each teacher shall be paid:

7.5.1 Delivery of teachers' salary cheques shall be for all teachers under contract by direct deposit in accordance with the following schedule:

The board of trustees shall initiate the direct deposit of the teacher's designated banking institution of 1/12 of the annual salary on the second last operational day of each month from September to June. The July salary payment shall be deposited with the June salary payment. The August salary payment shall be deposited on the second last banking day of August.

7.5.2 The Board will be relieved of obligation in 7.5.1 in the event of circumstances beyond their control.

7.6 The payment of day-to-day substitute teachers shall be $133 inclusive of vacation pay.

Substitute teachers providing services in two different schools on two different campuses on the same day shall receive an allowance of $25.

7.6.1 Long term (five days or more consecutive days of instruction) substitutes in Elk Island Public Schools shall be paid 1/200 of their salary grid beginning on the fourth day providing the assignment is for five days or longer for the same teacher.

8. Medical Leave

8.1 In the first year of service with the Board a teacher shall be entitled to sick leave to a total of 20 teaching days, three of which may be used to care for the teacher's sick child, parent or spouse.

8.2 During the second and subsequent years of service, annual sick leave with full salary, three of which may be used to care for the teacher's sick child, parent or spouse, will be granted for the purpose of obtaining necessary medical or dental treatment or because of accident, sickness or disability for 90 calendar days.

8.3 A teacher who has more than one year of service and has been absent due to medical disability shall, upon return to full-time duty, be entitled to an additional sick leave benefit of 90 calendar days. Prior to such return, the teacher may be required to provide at the request of the superintendent, a medical certificate from a physician designated by the board of trustees stating that the teacher is medically able to resume service.

A teacher on disability leave who returns to work for less than six months and goes back on sick leave for the same illness will return to ASEBP, extended disability benefits.

8.4 Before any payment is made under the foregoing regulations, the teacher shall provide:

(a) A declaration, on a form to be provided by the Board, where the absence is for a period of three days or less.

(b) A certificate signed by a qualified medical or dental practitioner where the absence is for a period of more than three days. This certificate shall be submitted within 15 days of return to full-time duty. If the absence occurs after June 15, the certificate must be submitted by June 30. Non-compliance shall result in loss of salary for the days absent in excess of the initial three days.

(c) A further medical certificate, if requested by the Board, at the end of each month for the duration of the disability when the disability extends for a period of over one month.

9. Professional Development

9.1 Teachers with three or more years of service with the Board may be granted leave of absence for a period of one year to advance the academic or professional competence of the teacher.

9.2 A teacher eligible for leave of absence for the purpose of study shall receive:

(a) 70 percent of salary plus continuation of benefits, as per clause 13 or

(b) minimum salary on grid per category of teacher education plus continuation of benefits, as per clause 13, whichever is the greater of (a) or (b).

The allowance payable shall be made in equal monthly instalments on or before the second last operational day of each month.

9.2.1 The Board favors the principle of granting three leaves per year.

9.3 Professional leave, as in 9.1 and 9.2, shall be granted at the sole discretion of the Board. Other professional leaves, without pay, may be granted at the discretion of the Board.

9.4 A teacher who is granted leave under clause 9.1 shall, as a condition, give an undertaking to serve the Board in some educational capacity for a period of two years following return from such leave or if the leave is less than one year, a period of up to 24 months determined by multiplying each month of leave by two.

9.5 The Board will pay $120,000 on the first operational day of each year into a professional development fund of the ATA. The increase of $20,000 is to be transferred from sabbaticals. Funds will be administered by the local ATA with reconciliation of the fund and teacher participation submitted to the superintendent or designate January 31 and June 30. Any monies that remain in the fund at the end of the school year will be carried forward to the next school year.

10. Compassionate Leave of Absence

10.1 Leave necessitated by the critical illness or death of a spouse or child shall be granted with full salary as follows:

10.1.1 Up to and including five school days for critical illness.

In the event of a dispute concerning the interpretation and/or application of "critical illness" the judgment of the attending physician shall be held as final. Such certificate shall be presented within 30 days of notification of dispute.

10.1.2 Leave granted under clause 10.1.1 will terminate in the event of death of the relative and the teacher will then be eligible for leave under clause 10.1.3.

10.1.3 Up to and including 10 school days for death.

10.1.4 The days of absence referred to in clauses 10.1.1 and 10.1.3 must be taken during the time of the actual occurrence of the critical illness or death.

10.2 Leave necessitated by the critical illness or death of a parent, brother, sister, parent of a spouse, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchild or relative who is a member of the teacher's household shall be granted with full salary as follows:

10.2.1 Up to and including five school days for critical illness.

In the event of a dispute concerning the interpretation and/or application of "critical illness" the judgment of the attending physician shall be held as final. Such certificate shall be presented within 30 days of notification of dispute.

10.2.2 Leave granted under clause 10.2.1 will terminate in the event of death of the relative and the teacher will then be eligible for leave under clause 10.2.3.

10.2.3 Up to and including five school days for death.

Where travel is necessary, the normal commercial traveling time will be added to the leave, less the cost of a substitute.

10.2.4 The days of absence referred to in clauses 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 must be taken during the time of the actual occurrence of the critical illness or death.

10.3 Temporary leave of absence for one full day with full salary shall be granted to attend the funeral of a grandparent, brother-in-law or sister-in-law if the funeral is on a school day.

10.4 Additional compassionate leave of absence, with full salary or with full salary less the cost of a substitute, due to unusual circumstances may be granted at the sole discretion of the Board or its delegates, upon application by the teacher.

11. Maternity Leave

11.1 Teachers are entitled to maternity leave.

11.2 The maternity leave will begin at the discretion of the teacher. The teacher shall, when possible, notify the Board, in writing of her leave requirements three months in advance of the first day of the leave. The notification shall include the following information:

(a) A medical certificate certifying pregnancy and expected date of delivery

(b) The start date of the leave

The commencement of such leave of absence shall be no later than the date of birth.

11.3 Combined maternity/personal leaves shall be up to 12 months. Leave in excess of 18 weeks shall be determined to be leave for personal reasons as described in clause 12.1. At the request of the teacher, the leave may be extended for up to an additional 12 months at the discretion of the Board.

11.4 The teacher shall provide the Board no less than two weeks notice, in writing, of the intended return date, during the first 18 weeks of leave. Consideration shall be given to reporting periods and the natural breaks in the school year. The Board may require the teacher to provide a medical certificate before returning to active service (as in clause 8.3).

11.4.1 For leaves in excess of 18 weeks, the teacher shall provide the Board with 30 days notice of the intended return date.

11.5 When a maternity leave is terminated on or before the 18 weeks or when a combined maternity/personal leave concludes within a school year, the teacher shall return to her former school or location. Leaves that are longer than 18 weeks and that span more than one school year shall be granted from the system and not from a specific school or location. Consideration should be given to the continuity of the students' educational program and the natural breaks in the school year in the establishment of the return date.

11.6 A teacher unable to perform her duties for reasons associated with her pregnancy prior to 10 weeks before the expected date of delivery shall access medical leave until such time as she is eligible for extended disability benefit.

11.7 A teacher commencing maternity leave within 10 weeks of the expected date of delivery shall choose either (a) or (b) and inform the Board of the choice in writing no later than two weeks prior to the first day of the leave which can be no later than the date of delivery. The choice made shall be irrevocable.

(a) The teacher may access the Board's supplemental employment insurance (EI) benefit (SUB) plan. The terms and conditions of the plan are outlined in the information provided to applicants. Pending changes of federal legislation and or regulations, the Board reserves the right to make changes to the terms and conditions at any time. The Board shall advise teachers of changes to the terms and conditions.

(b) The teacher may access medical leave for the period of illness (health related portion of maternity leave) or disability as provided under clause 8.

11.8 A teacher is entitled to temporary leave of absence with full salary for not more than two calender days for the birth or adoption of a child.

11.9 For purposes of adoption, leave of absence shall be given without salary or benefits for a period of not more than 18 weeks. The leave shall start on the date on which the adoptive parent first obtains custody of the child.

11.10 Extensions for adoption leave are granted for up to 12 months. Leave in excess of 18 weeks shall be deemed to be leave for personal reasons as described in clause 12.1. When an adoptive leave is terminated on or before the 18 weeks or when the extended personal leave concludes within a school year, the teacher shall return to the former school or location. Leaves that are longer than 18 weeks and that span more than one school year shall be granted from the system and not from a specific school or location. Consideration should be given to the continuity of the students' educational program and the natural breaks in the school year in the establishment of the return date.

11.11 For leaves of 18 weeks or less, the teacher shall provide the Board no less than two weeks notice in writing, of the intended return date. For leaves in excess of 18 weeks, the teacher shall provide no less than 30 days notice, in writing, of the intended return date. Consideration shall be given to reporting periods and natural breaks in the school year.

11.12 The Board maternity/adoption provisions will always meet the standards established by federal legislation and/or regulations.

12. Other Leaves of Absence

12.1 Reasonable requests for leave of absence will be granted for:

(a) Professional activities

(b) Community activities

(c) Personal reasons

(d) Other reasons.

Application to the Board or its delegates, for leave with pay shall be made prior to the leave being granted in all cases excepting emergency where such applications may be made within 30 days subsequent to the leave. Vacation period and statutory holidays will not be extended.

Leave of absence granted above will be at one of:

1. Full salary

2. Full salary less the cost of a substitute

3. Full salary subject to recovery from a third party

4. Without salary.

12.2 Leave for personal reasons under 12.1 (c) shall be leave without salary and without benefits.

12.3 Leave for full-time teachers shall be granted at full salary less the cost of a substitute for not more than three days per school year for personal business which could not otherwise be conducted outside of regular school hours. The cost of a substitute will be charged only if a substitute is required. Leaves for part-time teachers shall be prorated according to their full-time equivalent and rounded upward to the nearest half day. This leave shall not be used to extend the summer vacation at the beginning or end of the school year.

13. Insurance Programs

13.1 Coverage for plans provided in this article shall be through the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan, where applicable or any other plan which is mutually agreed by both the Board and the Association. The Board shall contribute 86.5 percent of the total required benefit premiums for group insurance programs in which the teacher participates and shall arrange cost sharing of premiums in clauses 13.1 to 13.8 in such a fashion as to minimize taxable benefits to teachers.

13.2 Effective the first of the month following the date of ratification of this agreement, the Board shall contribute toward the premium cost of each participating teacher for Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Schedule 2A and Extended Disability Plan D1). All teachers appointed to staff September 1, 1975 and thereafter shall be members of these plans as a condition of employment.

13.3 It is understood that a teacher who becomes eligible for receipt of disability benefits as provided in the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan will not be entitled to receive cumulative sick pay benefits during the period of eligibility.

13.4 Effective the first of the month following the date of ratification of this agreement, the Board shall contribute toward the premium cost of each participating teacher for the following Alberta School Employee Benefit Plans:

Extended Health Care Plan 1

Dental Care Plan 3C

Vision Care Plan 1.

13.5 Effective the first of the month following the date of ratification of this agreement, the Board shall contribute toward the cost of the Alberta Health Care premiums, for those employees enrolled.

13.6 The Board shall deduct from the monthly salary of each teacher an amount equal to the teacher's share of total required premiums for group insurance plans in which the teacher participates and shall remit payments for premiums to the appropriate companies.

13.7 All contributions by the employer towards the cost of the insurance programs included in clause 13 shall cease when a teacher is granted leave of absence due to pregnancy and other leaves of absence where such leaves extend for more than 30 days excepting leave for professional development which shall receive employer contributions to benefits as specified in clause 9.2.

13.8 Teachers on Board approved leaves may apply to continue their participation in the group insurance plans. Such participation shall be on the basis of the teacher paying the total premium costs involved and subject to any eligibility restrictions in the plans which may exist.

13.9 Teachers approved to extend their benefit coverage while on leave of absence shall arrange payment of benefits by automatic direct debit.

14. Conditions of Service

14.1 In each school the principal shall allocate instructional time and other duties of teachers, in consultation with staff.

14.2 Teachers will not be required to render service for more than 200 consecutive days commencing the opening day of school in each school year exclusive of vacation periods, weekends and holidays.

14.2.1 A teacher who agrees to render service during the vacation periods, at the written request of the superintendent, shall be paid 1/200 of his/her total annual grid salary for each day of work, but for advertised projects may accept the established rate of pay.

14.3 Notwithstanding the preceding clause, administrators shall be responsible to organize their schools in order that the same are ready and able to operate.

General

15. All previous agreements, schedules and regulations between or affecting the parties are hereby cancelled.

16. Grievance Procedure

16.1 Any difference between any employee covered by this collective agreement and the Board or in a proper case between the Local of the Alberta Teachers' Association and the Board, concerning the interpretation, application, operation or alleged violation of this collective agreement and further including any dispute as to whether the difference is arbitrable, shall be dealt with as herein provided without stoppage of work or refusal to perform work.

16.1.1 (a) Such a difference (hereinafter called "a grievance") shall first be submitted in writing to the superintendent or designate, and to the Local economic policy committee of the Alberta Teachers' Association as the case may be. Such written submission shall be made within 15 days from the date of the incident giving rise to the grievance or from the date the griever first has knowledge of the incident, whichever is later. Such grievance shall set out the nature of the grievance, the articles of this collective agreement which it is alleged have been violated and the remedy sought.

(b) Both the employee and the employer or their representatives, shall meet to resolve the dispute within 10 days of the receipt of the grievance notice.

(c) In the event that the grievance concerns matters of salary, the Board agrees to provide relevant payroll records if requested by the griever or his representative.

16.2 In the event the grievance is not settled within 15 days after the date of submission of the grievance in accordance with the above procedure, then on or before a further five days have elapsed from the expiration of the aforesaid 15 days time period, the grievance shall be referred in writing to the grievance committee. Such grievance committee shall be composed of two representatives of the Board and two representatives of the Alberta Teachers' Association. A quorum of this committee shall consist of all members. The grievance committee shall meet and endeavor to resolve the grievance and shall render its decision in respect of the grievance within 21 days following receipt of the submission and shall dispose of each grievance before proceeding to another, except where by unanimous consent of the grievance committee, the hearing of such grievance is adjourned for the purpose of obtaining further information. If the grievance committee reaches a unanimous decision as to the disposition of any grievance, that decision shall be final and binding.

16.2.1 If the grievance committee does not reach a unanimous or any decision within the said time, then either party may, by written notice served on the other party, require the establishment of an arbitration board as hereinafter provided. Such notice must be given within 10 days after the date of the aforesaid 21 day limit expires or the date the grievance committee renders other than a unanimous decision, whichever is shorter.

16.2.2 No meeting of the grievance committee shall be held during normal teaching hours except by the unanimous consent of the grievance committee.

16.3 Each party shall appoint one member as its representative on the arbitration board within seven days of such notice and shall so inform the other party of its appointee. The two members so appointed shall, within five days of the appointment of the second of them, appoint a third person who shall be the chairman. In the event of any failure to appoint a chairman, either party may request the Minister of the Department of Labour to make the necessary appointment.

16.3.1 The arbitration board shall determine its own procedure but shall give full opportunity to all parties to present evidence and to be heard.

16.4 The arbitration board shall not change, amend or alter any of the terms of this collective agreement. All grievances or differences submitted shall present an arbitrable issue under this collective agreement and shall not depend on or involve an issue or contention by either party that is contrary to any provisions of this collective agreement or that involves the determination of a subject matter not covered by or arising during the term of this collective agreement.

16.5 The finding and decision of a majority is the award of the arbitration board and is final and binding upon the parties and upon any employee affected by it. If there is not a majority, the decision of the chairman governs and it shall be deemed to be the award of the arbitration board.

16.5.1 The arbitration board shall give its decision not later than 14 days after the appointment of the chairman provided, however, that this time period may be extended by written consent of the parties.

16.6 Each party to the grievance shall bear the expense of its respective appointee and the two parties shall bear equally the expenses of the chairman.

16.7 All of the aforesaid time limits referred to in the grievance procedures shall be exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays and school holidays excepting school holidays in July and August if required to complete a grievance already started. With the consent of all parties involved, a grievance procedure may be delayed until after the summer break.

16.8 In the event, at any stage of the aforesaid procedure (except in respect of appointing persons to the board) the grieving party fails to take the actions specified and within the time limits specified, the grievance shall be deemed to be at an end.

16.9 Any of the aforesaid time limits may be extended at any stage upon the written consent of the parties.

17. The parties agree to the continuation of the teacher board consultation committee.

Letters of Intent

Class Sizes:

The parties agree that the Province of Alberta is providing inadequate funds to support reasonable class sizes. The parties agree to form a joint committee to study and report the effects of reducing class sizes in Elk Island Public Schools.

Subrogration:

The parties agree to form a joint committee to develop appropriate wording for a clause to be presented to their respective members for inclusion in the collective agreement for the 2001-2002 school year.

Clause 14.1:

The parties agree to review the effects of the wording changes to this clause (from the wording contained in the 1998-2000 agreement) in June 2001.

Inclement Weather:

The parties agree to recommend and support appropriate changes in the system policy to reflect mutual concern for the safety of staff. Specifically, Policy GCBD, numbers 6a and 6b would be inserted in Policy EBCD as Guidelines numbers 3a and 3b. Number 3a would be amended to read: "A staff member at his/her regular residence who because of impassible roads/severe conditions, cannot get to school, shall be paid full salary. The staff member shall immediately notify his/her principal of this circumstance." The wording for 3b shall remain as per the current policy.

7th Year Education

The parties agree that the matter of the 7th year of education for grid/compensation purposes be sent to committee for review and recommendation.