Backgrounder


New Provincial Funding Proposal For English Public Elementary Teachers And Boards

February 10, 2009

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne has presented a new and final funding proposal to the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA). This proposal is a final attempt to get both parties to agree to a new four-year provincial framework agreement that is in the best interest of students and teachers.

Highlights

The new $700 million investment would address the federation's continued concerns and reflects the consequence of ETFO and OPSBA not reaching a provincial framework agreement by the December 5, 2008, deadline. It contains fair salary increases, more preparation time, smaller class sizes, more grade 7 and 8 teachers, more time to do report cards, improved working conditions for occasional teachers and guaranteed enhancements to benefits.

  • $461 million to fund a 10.4 per cent salary increase over four years (two per cent, two per cent, three per cent, three per cent), bringing the maximum salary to about $92,700
  • $138 million to increase the amount of preparation time teachers have, from 200 to 240 minutes
  • $40 million to hire 431 more teachers to reduce the average class size in grades 4 to 8
  • $18 million to enhance professional development for elementary teachers
  • $16 million to increase supervision of elementary students
  • $13 million for 144 additional teachers in grades 7 and 8
  • $13 million to improve benefits for teachers and working conditions for occasional teachers.

Key Facts

  • The 10.4 per cent (compounded) salary increase over four years is in keeping with the salary increase ETFO proposed in December 2008
  • All 22 teacher federations and unions representing school board employees, including ETFO on behalf of its support workers, have reached four-year provincial framework agreements
  • 392 four-year collective agreements have been ratified locally
  • ETFO and OPSBA have until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, to accept this proposal.

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