Local school boards are concerned about a potential new province-wide funding agreement that could see teachers forgo a 4.3 per cent salary increase in exchange for limiting the number of hours of instructional time.
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) announced it has met with the province and the Alberta School Boards Association several times in the past year to discuss funding agreements for teachers, schools and education.
Teachers and school boards are currently operating under a five-year framework agreement that dates to 2007 and remains in place until the end of the 2011/12 school year.
According to a statement released by the ATA last week, the provincial government has asked teachers and boards to consider replacing current agreements with ones extending to 2015.
With a projected $5-billion deficit this year, the province wants teachers to forgo a mandatory salary increase, estimated to be 4.3 per cent, and accept limited salary increases in subsequent years.
In exchange, the province would place limits on the number of hours of instructional time for teachers, as well as additional time spent on other duties beyond instruction, according to the ATA.
Local concerns
"The proposal to reduce the amount of instructional time for students would be something that causes us concern," Protestant board chair Joan Trettler said.
Trettler said the division currently caps the number of teaching hours per week at slightly more than 20, something known as the "1,400-minute clause."
"We've had that sort of limitation in our contract for many, many years," Trettler said. "Not very many boards have it."
Under current agreements, school boards require up to 950 hours of instructional time in a year for full-time elementary and junior high students, and up to 1,000 hours of instructional time for full-time junior and senior high students.
Trettler said she's not sure if the amount of instructional time for teachers would be further reduced.
Catholic board chair Lauri-Ann Turnbull said her division has similar concerns although she cautioned discussions are still ongoing.
"If the minister is trying to achieve a zero-per-cent increase, I don't believe less time in front of our kids is a way of achieving this and I think my board would agree," she said.
Turnbull said the board wants to make sure any changes support student learning and student success. "We want to make sure that any proposals give school boards the flexibility to manage our systems in the best interests of our community and students," Turnbull said. "And of course, is there funding to support?"
According to the ATA, such restrictions would benefit teachers by giving them additional time for lesson preparation, collaboration, professional development and community and parent outreach.
Other elements under consideration include the establishment of a board of teacher development, led by teachers, to advise the minister of professional development; a guaranteed minimum number of professional learning days in the school year, establishing a standing government ATA-ASBA consultation committee and maintenance of the class size initiative.
Education Minister Dave Hancock said he would not comment on the discussions at this time.
Trettler said she is also concerned how a potential new agreement would play out long term.
"It would be a major adjustment throughout the province," she said.
"What will be the implications for students and teachers and everyone in the system long term, not just in the coming year?"
According to the ATA, the current agreement expires on Aug. 31, 2012 but could be replaced by a new agreement, should one be brought forward.
The ATA said it expects to receive a formal proposal from government in the coming weeks.
