Page 28, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, April 28, 1993 Catholic teachers reject board's offer By Mike Kowalski It's back to the bargaining table for the Durham separate school board and its 320 second- ary teachers. By a margin of 72 per cent, teachers last Friday rejected the board's latest contract proposal. The 290 teachers who cast ballots also voted 63 per cent in favour of giving their bargaining committee the power to call a strike. However, a strike would only occur if the board opted to change the terms of the existing contract under a rarely used provincial law, said teachers' representative Blair Morris. No job action is planned at the moment said Morris, president of the burham branch of the Ontario English Catholic -Tea- chers'Association. The results of the two votes should be enough to convince trustees of the teachers' resolve, he feels. "We think it sends a message to the board," said Morris. "We want to go back and meet with them as soon as it's con- venient, but it (vote) tells them the teachers don't like it," he said. Teachers have been without a contract since the previous one- year agreement expired last August. About 5,700 students attend the six secondary schools opera- ted by the Durham board. Two major issues have preven- ted a settiement from being rea- ched before now, Morris said. Items under dispute involve the size of provincially mandated 'destreamed' Grade 9 classes beginning next September, and the need to preserve services for special education students. "Salary is a non-issue," said Morris. "We have different positions but it could be resolved quickly,» he said. "The number one issue -- everything hinges on it -- is Grade 9 class size." Currently, students are enrol- led in one of three levels -- advanced, general or basic. Maxi- mum class sizes for the three levels are 34, 30 and 23, respec- tively, Morris said. But under destreaming, all students, regardless of needs and abilities, will be thrust into the same class, he explained. As a result, teachers' work- loads will increase Morris said. "Right now teachers can come up with one program and apply it to the class, (but with des- treaming) they will need to come up with three," he said. "The workload it will involve is very high and somebody will lose out drastically unlçss the num- bers are brought down." Mon-is said tcachers want a compromise somewhere between the numbers perritted for the existing three levels. He said stuients will suffer from higher cïass sizes and that teachers are being put into the position of having to fight to maintain services and programs. This, Morris contends, is the board's responsibility, not the teachers'. "Some teachers are saying 'why should we put ourselves on the line for the students?,' the board should be doing it," he said. School board chair Tom Old- man insisted that the board has the students' best interests in mind. "Ve always put our students first when lookmng at any expen- ditures, in the budget process and negotiations, that's the busi- ness we're in," said Oldman. "Ve feel what we offered would not deny students any advantages of an excellent edu- cation,"he said. Although he did not wish to debate the class size issue through the media, Oldman defended the board's position. "Ve feel our numbers are closely aligned to what the pro- vince wants. We're not trying to overburden the teachers." Oldman, a Whitby trustee, said the board made the best offer it could under the "present economic climate." He said trustees are monitor- ing the Ontario government's attempt to arrive at a 'social contract' with public sector employees closely. But the board is prepared to resume bargaining with the tea- chers as soon as it decides on its next course of action, Oldman said. "We'll always meet with the federation and our employees. We have a tremendous amount of respect for our teachers," he said. Morris stressed that the tea- chers would only strike if the board chose to alter the current agreement, a move he considered unlikely. "No school board has done that before," he said. School boards can change an existing contract 60 days after release of a provincial fact fin- der's report. A fact finder's report on the negotiations was issued in February. Fact finder Calum MacLeod, whose recommendations were not binding, proposed a number of measures aimed at helping the parties reach a settlement. His recommendations inclu- ded: * an overall wage increase of one per cent; * dropping benefit demands if an agreement on wages can be obtained; * the possibility of a multi-year contract. THEY'RE OUTSTANDING Students awarded for good citizenship By Cheryl-Ann MacKean Students of public secondary schools who stand apart from other students because of their success, good citizenship and abi- lity to lead were recognized recently. A number of Whitby students were honoured with personal achievement awards at Durham Student Recognition Night at Harwood Secondary School in Ajax. The students were commended for their significant contributions to the community and their schools while overcominghper- sonal obstacles to achieve PRINGLE CREEK Public School student Ryan Crotin is the Ontario Public School Teachers Federation, Durham District, 1993 student of the year. He was presented with his award at the annual Educators Breakfast Friday in Ajax. The educational assistant of the year was also from a Whitby school -- Ilona Coleby of Col. J.E. Farewell Public School. Photo by Mark Reesor. whiby Free Press success. The event was organized by the Durham Board of Education and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (Dis- trict 17). Students were chosen by their appreciative teachers based on their demonstrations of good citi- zenship, persistent determina- tion and conscientiousness as students and workers. Student winners at Anderson CVI in Whitby are Matt Ander- son, Cort Fowler and Steve Hann. Anderson, a 'gentle giant,' is known to staff and students at the school as an ambassador, peacekeeper and all around enthusiastic student. He involves himself not only in sports, school play and spirit assemblies, but on a personal level. Fowler is described as resourceful, dependable and positive. He was described as a cheerful student more than wil- ling to assist staff and students voluntarily. His outstanding sportsmanship and academic abi- lities contribute to his behaviour which has been an example for all students at Anderson. Hann is an enthusiastic stu- dent who participates in sports and classes eagerly despite a physical handicap. A determined student, Hann is a member of Anderson's wrestling team and has tried out for the school soccer team. He is recognized as one who performs well and demonstrates a positive example for other stu- dents -- truly one to look up to. Bev Ouh, staff member at Anderson CVI says Matt Ander- son "takes everything about the school personally...he is very proud of Anderson. "Cort Fowler is a student who tends to volunteer before being asked....He is resourceful and helpful. "Despite a physical disability, Steve (Hann) has joined the wrestling team...He has over- come his personal obstacle to become an excellent ambassador for the school." Three students were also cho- sen from Henry Street High School of Whitby. Brian Duffy, Jennifer Reeks and Greg Sullivan were recog- nized along with students from Anderson and 17 other secondary schools in Durham Region. Duffy, a fifth-year student, began classes at the general level, but with determination and a lot of hard work, he managed to transfer programs so that he can go to university. Duffy is described as a role model for other students at Henry with learning disabilities. A helpful volunteer, he is now on his way to completing his second- ary school education with the help of his teachers. Most students in their gra- duating year would find it diffi- cult to make time for school activities or volunteer work at their school -- but not Reeks. A diligent worker, she has developed her own organiza- Durham College and the Ontario Ministry of Skills Development are offering tuition- paid courses to respond to the technical needs of the industrial community. Courses begin as early as May. To be eligible for courses, one must be a technician, technologist or an attested equivalent and reside in Ontario. The following programs are being offered at the Oshawa campus: advanced desktop video, autolisp for autocad: automated drafting, bar coding automation, expert system in industrial tional skills which will help her next year at community college. She is actively involved with the students council and has made outstanding contributions to life at Henry. Sullivan has worked with enthusiasm and cheerfulness on equipment installation, repairs and many school fashion shows, theatrical and television produc- tions at Henry. A valued member of the Henry Street High School audio-visual crew, he will be missed when he graduates this year. Sullivan is a bright student who shows much promise in audio-visual techni- ques. "Jennifer Reeks has extensive involvement with organizing events with the student council, sa.s Henry teacher John Bolten. Brian Duffy has learned to compensate for his learning dis- abihty, and now he helps others with their learning diabilities. "Greg Sullivan is an excep- tionally competent audio-visual operator." applications, introduction to pen-based computer technology, mould-cooling analysis, visual basic for DOS: technical programming with Windows. Courses are offered on a one-time basis only. A deposit of $75 is required of each student, $65 of that refunded upon completion of the course if all Durham College material is returned, and if a minimum attendance of 80 per cent is maintained. For further information, contact Rick Ross at Durham College, (416) 721-2000, ext. 217. * -leecuss fo echnlost