*This is a legacy provincial website of the ATA. Visit our new website here

Teacher Welfare and Member Services to merge

PEC POINTS

August 27, 2020 Audrey Dutka, ATA News Staff

​​

Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held June 11–12, 2020, via Zoom

  1. Approved proposed amendments to Association bylaws, subject to approval at the 2020 Annual Representative Assembly, to change the voting eligibility cut-off date for active and associate members from Nov. 30 of each year to the first day that ballots can be cast in a PEC election.
  2. In accordance with general bylaw 70, approved that voting for the 2021 Provincial Executive Council general election be conducted by electronic ballot.
  3. Approved that the date for announcement of voting results for the 2021 Provincial Executive Council general election will be March 12, 2021.
  4. Established, effective Sept. 1, 2020, a unified program area to undertake the functions of the Teacher Welfare and Member Services program areas and disbanded, effective Sept. 1, 2020, the Teacher Welfare and Member Services program areas, with staff and budget lines allocated to the unified program area.
  5. Approved the draft Association calendars for 2020/21, and provisionally approved the draft Association calendars for 2021/22 and 2022/23, for finalization following the 2020 Annual Representative Assembly.
  6. Amended the administrative guidelines to prohibit alcohol during Association events, conferences and meetings where cultural protocols and items are included (i.e., Elder blessing, powwow and round dance drums, dancers, eagle feathers and ceremonial pipes).
  7. Authorized staff to study and report back to Council on options, location, cost and upkeep to install the Treaty 6 flag and the Métis flag at Barnett House alongside the Canadian flag.
  8. Approved the proposed list of central and local matters as the Association’s initial proposal for list bargaining.
  9. In accordance with section 31(2) of the Teaching Profession Act, approved an extension to the time period to commence a hearing.
  10. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of 10 charges of unprofessional conduct for failing to treat students with dignity and respect and be considerate of their circumstances and failing to maintain the honour and dignity of the profession.
    The committee heard that the teacher engaged in texting and/or other electronic communications with students or former students shortly after their graduation and that the comments made were inappropriate to an acceptable teacher–student relationship. The teacher also engaged in a grooming-type activity with one or more current students or former students shortly after their graduation, and had sexual relationships with one or more students while they were still students or shortly after graduation.
    The hearing committee imposed penalties to cover all 10 charges of a letter of severe reprimand, a fine of $2,500, a declaration that the teacher is permanently ineligible for membership in the Association and a recommendation to the minister of education that the teacher’s teaching certificate be cancelled.
  11. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for criticizing the professional competence of a teacher, in a manner contrary to article 13 of the Code of Professional Conduct, and for failing to treat a pupil or pupils with dignity and respect and be considerate of their circumstances by making an announcement using the school’s public address system to direct a group of students back to class and stating that they were failing the class. The hearing committee imposed a single letter of reprimand to address both charges.
  12. Received the report of a hearing committee that found a teacher guilty of nine charges of unprofessional conduct for failing to act in a manner that maintains the honour and dignity of the profession and failing to act in a manner that treats students with dignity and respect and without consideration of the students’ circumstances.
    The committee heard that the teacher engaged in electronic communications with a student and engaged in a social relationship with a student that involved kissing the student in the presence of other students and behind closed doors in the teacher’s classroom. The teacher also engaged in physical contact with the student in the presence of other students and misrepresented the relationship to several colleagues, leading to at least one colleague supporting the teacher in conversation with parents.
    The hearing committee imposed penalties to cover all nine charges of a letter of severe reprimand, a declaration that the teacher is permanently ineligible for membership in the Alberta Teachers’ Association and a recommendation to the minister of education that the teacher’s teaching certificate be cancelled.
  13. Approved amendments to the administrative guidelines in relation to online convention exhibitor directories and convention registration for Associate members and certain non-members.
  14. Amended the Standard Constitution for Convention Associations and the nine convention association constitutions to align with convention-related amendments to the administrative guidelines.
  15. Allocated $10,000 from contingency for the administration of convention attendance requests for 2020/21.
  16. Approved two electoral ballots and their explanatory notes for distribution to the membership in the fall and consideration at the 2021 Annual Representative Assembly.
  17. Approved 13 grant applications to receive a Diversity, Equity and Human Rights grant, which support innovative projects that build inclusive learning communities and promote the principles of diversity, equity and human rights.
  18. Approved the names of two teachers for addition to the Association instructor name bank, three teachers for addition to the Association administrator instructors name bank and one teacher for addition to the Indigenous Education Professional Development Facilitator Corps name bank.
  19. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorized that the Finland–Alberta Research Partnership (FINAL) and Alberta–Iceland International Research Partnership (ALICE) be moved to virtual summits and local educational development projects for the 2020/21 school year, with funding reduced to $2,500 per school per annum. Council also extended the project to a fourth year (2021/22), when international travel and home/billet exchanges are more feasible, with funding reinstated to $5,000 per school for the final project year.
  20. Approved amendments to the frame of reference for the Finance Committee and the frame of reference for the Christ the Redeemer Catholic Separate School Division Teacher Welfare Committee.
  21. Approved field member committee and representation assignments for 2020/21.

Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held June 19, 2020, via Zoom

  1. Populated two staff selection committees for the positions of associate co-ordinator, collective bargaining, and associate co-ordinator, professional discipline.
  2. Disbanded with thanks the Committee on Council Election Processes and the Committee on Understanding Aggression(s) in Alberta Schools and School Communities. ❚