FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2002

Co-op students’ credits may be in jeopardy
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is pleased that elementary teachers have responded positively to the Board’s concern for student safety and planned extra-curricular activities. Recently the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) agreed that teachers will supervise buses and will participate in the soccer tournament planned for this week.

“The announcement by David Patterson that teachers will provide bus supervision prior to and following school is reassuring to parents,” says Chris Salt, Superintendent of Operations/Human Resources, adding, “The Board is appreciative of the union’s decision to permit its members to participate in planned extra-curricular activities, like the soccer tournament.”

However, the Board fails to understand why some secondary students are running the risk of being denied their Co-Operative (co-op)/ Experiential Learning credit this year. As caused by the work-to-rule, these students have been removed from their placement in elementary schools for the first semester.

Although ETFO’s Provincial Takeover Bulletin #3 of October 3rd, indicates that the job action ‘is designed initially to impact on the operations of the Board with minimal effects on students, families, and the community,’ we are seeing evidence to the contrary.

“It is unfortunate that removing co-op students from classrooms takes away valuable resources that assist in the delivery of programs,” says Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board. “If students cannot participate in the co-op program, they are in jeopardy of being denied their co-op credits.”

Co-op teachers are being asked to make alternate arrangements for the affected co-op students for the duration of the first semester. This is being done in an attempt to avoid students losing their credits.

The Board continues to feel that a settlement is possible and is prepared to return to the table at the call of the Ministry of Labour mediator Bruce Janisse.