This page is your source for information and updates about labour issues facing the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB). Updates will be posted as information becomes available.
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Manager, 613.966.1170, extension 62354, [email protected], or your child's principal.
March 9, 2020
Phase 7 of job action for ETFO and additional job action for OSSTF
Effective today, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario announced additional job action for its members. The job action involves picketing, making calls to MPPs, sending letters to the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, organizing leaflet distribution, among other actions.
Also effective today, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation announced additional job action for its members. The job action involves interim report cards, non-attendance at meetings and professional development, among other actions.
February 28, 2020
One-day strike for OSSTF on Thursday, March 5, 2020
Today the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation announced its members at select school boards will participate in a one-day strike on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Students in Grades 9-12 should not go to school that day. This strike does not affect students in JK-Grade 8.
A voicemail message will go home to families of secondary school students by Monday, March 2, 2020. Messages are also posted to our Twitter and Instagram feeds at @HPEschools.
February 26, 2020
Phase 6 of job action for ETFO
Effective today, the following applies to elementary teachers.
ETFO teacher and occasional teacher members will:
- do only their scheduled teaching and supervision assignments during their regular instructional time. Teacher and occasional teacher members will not agree to, or participate in, any additions/modifications to their schedule, with the exception of attending meetings to support students with special needs or to discuss student safety.
- not do any coverage for absent members, regardless of the reason for the absence (except in the case of an occasional teacher hired to replace an absent teacher).
- not accept/disperse students from/to other classrooms when a member is absent, regardless of the reason for the absence. (Note: If a member requires coverage for any reason, it is the responsibility of the school administration to arrange that coverage.)
- not miss their regularly scheduled planning or preparation time.
- not spend personal funds to purchase instructional materials or resources for students, the classroom, the school or the board.
- not upload data related to assessments on board systems. Teacher and occasional teacher members will continue to do assessments using their professional judgement. Members may complete assessments for supports and/or funding for students with special needs or ELL students.
Read more at the link below.
February 12, 2020
No school for all students due to province-wide strike on Friday, February 21, 2020
This afternoon school boards were informed that ETFO and OSSTF members will take part in a province-wide strike on Friday, February 21, 2020. All students in JK-Grade 12 should not go to school that day.
Families will receive a voicemail message about this over the next two days, on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14, 2020.
February 5, 2020
No school for elementary students due to strikes
JK-Grade 8 students should not go to school on the following days:
- Thursday, February 6, 2020 (all elementary teachers in Ontario on strike)
- Monday, February 10, 2020 (HPEDSB elementary teachers on strike)
- Tuesday, February 11, 2020 (all elementary teachers in Ontario on strike)
These strikes are being directed by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO).
Families of elementary students will receive a voicemail message about this on February 5, 2020.
January 28, 2020
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that its members will engage in a one-day strike on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 and also Thursday, February 6, 2020. As a result, students in JK-Grade 8 should not go to school either day. Please note that if the provincial government and union come to an agreement prior to either day, the strikes will not happen. Updates will be posted here, on social media and through local media.
This strike does not affect students in Grades 9-12.
In addition, effective February 3, 2020, ETFO members will not participate in extracurricular activities at any time, as per the Phase 5 Work-to-Rule Protocols.
January 27, 2020
The provincial government released a document to support parents during job action. Support for Parents Program Frequently Asked Questions (Pdf).
January 23, 2020
Today the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that its members will engage in a one-day strike on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. As a result, students in JK-Grade 8 should not go to school on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Parent letter from Sean Monteith, Director of Education (Pdf)
This strike does not affect students in Grades 9-12.
January 21, 2020
Letter to families about the OSSTF one-day strike and elementary report cards
Parents, guardians and caregivers: please see the letter from Sean Monteith, Director of Education (Pdf) about the one-day strike by OSSTF members scheduled for January 21, 2020 and also an update about report cards. If you have questions about how the strike will affect your child going to school, please contact the school principal.
Secondary
To confirm, the one-day strike on January 21, 2020 affects students in Grades 9-12 only; they will be redirected home if they show up at school.
Elementary
It is a normal school day on January 21, 2020 for all students in JK-Grade 8.
January 20, 2020
Childcare and before/after school programs in the event of an ETFO strike
In the event of a strike at HPEDSB elementary schools, childcare and before/after school programs may still operate at existing sites in schools. Parents/guardians should contact their provider to find out the status of the program (if it will be open or not) if a strike occurs.
January 17, 2020
Voicemail message to families this weekend
Families should listen for a voicemail message this weekend with information about the one-day strike by OSSTF members on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. A parent letter will be available on Monday, January 20, 2020.
Secondary
Schools will be closed to students in Grades 9-12 on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Any who show up at school will be redirected home.
Elementary
Schools will be open, as usual, on Tuesday, January 20, 2020 for elementary students, including for Grade 7s and 8s who attend classes at a high school.
January 15, 2020
OSSTF to hold a one-day strike at HPEDSB on Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Today the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation of Ontario (OSSTF) announced that its members will engage in a one-day strike on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. As a result, students in Grades 9-12 should not go to school on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. read more about the OSSTF job action
Secondary
To confirm, the one-day strike on January 21, 2020 affects students in Grades 9-12 only; they will be redirected home if they show up at school.
Elementary
It is a normal school day for all students in JK-Grade 8, regardless of where they go to school.
January 9, 2020
ETFO to escalate job action to Phase 3 on Monday, January 13, 2020; Phase 4 to follow on January 20
Today the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that its members will escalate job action to Phase 3 starting Monday, January 13, 2020.
As of that date, ETFO members will:
- not plan or participate in any assemblies, except to provide supervision to students;
- not participate in extracurricular activities except for those that are scheduled within the regular school day;
- not participate in field trips;
- not arrive at work any earlier than 30 minutes before the start of the instructional day for students (or for hourly paid ETFO members, not arrive any more than 30 minutes before the start of the scheduled work day); and
- not remain at the worksite later than 15 minutes after the end of the instructional day for students (or for hourly paid ETFO members, not remain later than 15 minutes after the end of the scheduled work day).
In addition, job action will escalate to Phase 4 Strike Protocol on Monday, January 20, 2020 at which time ETFO members will not participate in any school board or Ministry of Education professional learning.
ETFO has further stated that if no agreement is reached at the Teacher/Occasional Teacher and Education Worker Central Tables by January 17, 2020, ETFO locals will begin full-withdrawal of services strikes on a rotating basis effective January 20, 2020.
December 9, 2019
Letter to families (Pdf) about the one-day strike at HPEDSB on December 11, 2019. Parents/guardians and caregivers, if you have questions about how this will affect your child going to school, please contact the school principal.
December 6, 2019
OSSTF one-day rotating strikes on December 11, 2019
Today the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) announced that it will be holding rotating one-day strikes throughout the province on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.
HPEDSB is one of the affected school boards.
The strike will include all OSSTF members, who are secondary school teachers and education workers (professional and para-professional support personnel, such as child and youth workers, social workers and speech and language pathologists, to name a few).
Secondary
As a necessary consequence, all secondary classes will be cancelled and our secondary schools will be closed to students in Grades 9-12 on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.
Families of secondary school students will receive a voicemail message on Sunday, December 8, 2019. A letter will be available on this page and through schools on Monday, December 9, 2019.
Elementary
This strike does not involve the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) therefore all elementary schools will be open to students on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 and students should go to school as usual that day.
Families of elementary school students will receive a voicemail message on Monday, December 9, 2019. A letter will be available on this page and through schools that same day.
December 3, 2019
Letter to families about the OSSTF one-day strike
Parents, guardians and caregivers: please see the letter from Sean Monteith, Director of Education (Pdf), about the one-day strike by OSSTF members scheduled for December 4, 2019.
Secondary
To confirm, it affects students in Grades 9-12 only; they will be redirected home if they show up at school.
Elementary
It is a normal school day for all students in JK-Grade 8.
December 2, 2019
Voicemail message to families this afternoon/evening
Families should listen for a voicemail message this afternoon/evening with information about the one-day provincial strike by OSSTF members on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.
Secondary
Schools will be closed to students in Grades 9-12 that day. Any who show up at school will be redirected home.
Elementary
Schools will be open, as usual, that day for elementary students, including for Grade 7s and 8s who attend classes at a high school.
November 29, 2019
OSSTF one-day strike on December 4, 2019
Yesterday the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) announced that it will be holding a one-day strike throughout the province on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Secondary school students should not go to school that day.
The strike will include all OSSTF members, which are secondary school teachers and professional and para-professional support personnel, such as child and youth workers, social workers and speech and language pathologists, to name a few.
OSSTF has stated that negotiations at the provincial negotiating table will continue and if an agreement is reached before December 4, the strike will not happen. This one day strike will follow six days of information pickets and a limited withdrawal of administrative services that began November 26.
Secondary
All HPEDSB secondary schools, 7-12 schools and our K-12 school will be affected for Grades 9-12 only.
Elementary
All elementary schools, 7-12 schools and our K-12 school will be open, as usual, for elementary students on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.
Communications from schools to families will be available on Monday, December 2, 2019.
November 22, 2019
Important information for families regarding OSSTF job action
On November 21, 2019 the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) announced that job action will begin across the province on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.
HPEDSB schools will remain open, as usual, during this job action. HPEDSB has approximately 4,600 secondary students at one K-12, four 7-12 schools and two 9-12 schools.
We will monitor the situation and keep you updated as information becomes available. Job action specifics posted on the OSSTF Provincial website
November 15, 2019
Important information for families regarding ETFO job action
Yesterday the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that job action will begin across the province on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.
HPEDSB elementary schools will remain open, as usual, during this job action. HPEDSB has approximately 10,340 elementary students at 33 elementary, one K-12 and four 7-12 schools.
We will monitor the situation and keep you updated as information becomes available. Job action specifics posted on the ETFO Provincial website