For immediate release
May 10, 2000

Hastings and Prince Edward
District School Board supports teachers

    Students and staff are anxious to hear the details of Education Minister, Janet Ecker's, expected legislation to prevent teachers' unions from withdrawing after-school activities as part of a work-to-rule campaign. The proposed legislation may be brought forward as early as today.
    "The Board of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board supports our teachers in all that they do for our students," says Chair Audrey Carter. "We recognize that our teachers are already putting in countless voluntary hours in support of our students' education - extracurricular activities are a part of that education. Our teachers are already providing a range of after-school activities for students -- without being legislated to do so. Without teachers going above and beyond for our students, we would not have had successes such as 6,000 students participating in Celebration of Dance, COSSA champions in football, volleyball and other sports, Natural Bridges programs that are the envy of the province, and major dramatic and musical productions in all eight of our secondary schools and many of our elementary schools. Our Board would regret any government interference in this ongoing positive relationship between our teachers and students."

For more information contact:
Audrey Carter, Chair of the H.P.E.D.S.B., 969-8208 (home), 967-2332 (work)