The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held Oct. 20–21, 2016, at Barnett House in Edmonton

1. Directed the Association to develop an action plan to urge its members to protest to the minister of education their forced participation in international benchmarking activities, such as the International Computer and Information Literacy Study, until such time as the ministerial review of international benchmarking tests is completed.
2. Approved amendments to the Administrative Guidelines by establishing rules for elections for an interim period.
3. Authorized a contribution to the Canadian Teachers’ Federation Haiti Solidarity Fund to provide financial emergency support to its partner organizations in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
4. Established a Task Force on Services and Supports for Central Office Teachers.
5. Approved an examination of the impact of local levies on locals, with a focus on size, sparsity and economies of scale, with a report back to Provincial Executive Council at its February 2017 meeting.
6. Amended the Association’s Program Emphases for 2016/17 by adding the delivery of a one-day program for members of Council and local presidents on effective lobbying at the 2017 Summer Conference.
7. Approved in principle and referred to Finance Committee for review and costing a proposed list of programs on which the Association should focus in 2017/18.
8. Authorized an overexpenditure for costs related to the Committee on the Renovation and Expansion of Barnett House.
9. Approved the names of 15 teachers for nomination to Alberta Education for curriculum work as the need arises.
10. Authorized the attendance of up to six Council members at the Parkland Institute Annual Fall Conference, scheduled for Nov. 18–20, in Edmonton.
11. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for failing to fulfill contractual obligations to the teacher’s employer by providing less than 30 days’ notice of intention to resign from the teacher’s position, contrary to Article 9 of the Code of Professional Conduct. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a letter of reprimand and a fine of $100, payable within 90 days of receipt of the written notice. Failure to pay the fine within the specified period would result in the teacher being declared ineligible for membership in the Association.
12. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for engaging in behaviour for which the teacher was convicted of two indictable offences, namely sexual interference and luring a child, contrary to sections 151 and 172.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a declaration of ineligibility for membership in the Association and a recommendation to the minister of education that the teacher’s certificate be cancelled.
13. Approved that, notwithstanding the Administrative Guidelines, preparation and presentation of general collective bargaining objectives are deferred to the Provincial Executive Council meeting prior to the 2017 Teacher Welfare Area Conference.
14. Named field members and Council members to serve on Association ­committees. ❚