FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New four-year agreement for secondary teachers
June 1, 2005, Belleville, Ontario—Secondary school students are poised to experience four years of stability with their teachers now that a new agreement has been ratified between the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation District 29.

The Board unanimously passed a motion to ratify the tentative agreement on May 24th with the teachers voting in support on May 27th. The agreement covers the period September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2008 and covers monetary and workload issues.

“Congratulations to our negotiating team for their professional approach to the deliberations. As a Board we appreciate their efforts to support secondary students in our district. The Minister of Education keeps referring to an atmosphere of ‘peace and stability’ in Ontario schools which appears to be what we have achieved in Hastings and Prince Edward,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board.

Both parties worked through negotiations with a focus on student needs the needs of students in mindfrom both a supervision and safety standpoint, as well as with respect to class sizes.

For information, contact:
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, (613) 966-1170, or 1 800 267-4350, ext. 2354