IEPs, Growing Success and Other Workload Issues

TO: ETT MEMBERS
FROM: MARTIN LONG, PRESIDENT
RE: IEPs, GROWING SUCCESS AND OTHER WORKLOAD ISSUES
DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2010

ETT members are expressing their concerns about the unreasonable amount of time, and associated frustrations, arising from implementing the new IEPs and Elementary Progress Report Cards.

It is regrettable that the Board, while able to find the resources to organize a pep rally for 18,000 employees at the ACC, continues to demonstrate its incompetence in managing workplace change at the most basic level, especially where technological change is involved.

Remember TWEA’s precursor, SWAP? Three years ago the Director of Education issued an apology to ETT members for the frustration caused by an inadequate implementation plan. It seems that little, if anything has been learned – it’s déjà vu, all over again.

The problems start at the level of the Ministry, who typically time the introduction of new documents and policies in a way which does not respect the needs of boards or schools. Discussions between provincial ETFO reps and Ministry people often lead to understandings being reached concerning implementation, but with no follow through from the Ministry to share these understandings with school boards. Case in point:
“The Growing Success document does not state that all or any specific subject areas or learning skills must be commented on, nor does it specify that comments should have a literacy and numeracy focus”. (ETFO memo, October 14, 2010)

“In the interest of greater consistency among schools and for the benefit of improving student learning:
Comments on overall progress will be provided for: Literacy, Mathematics....”
(TDSB communication October 18, 2010)

Such critical decisions around implementation are made administratively, without benefit of input from the teachers’ representative body, ETT. Eventually, when the snafus become all too evident, and senior administration is receiving similar input from principals as well, reviews and focus groups are organized.

That is the stage we are at now, receiving input from members in the field and taking the issues to the board to get them fixed.

Unfortunately, our request that the timelines for extending IEP due dates be extended was declined, on the grounds that the dates are provincially established, and set in legislation.

ETT will continue to analyze and synthesize the information we receive from members. The Executive has scheduled a special emergency meeting next week to discuss these and other issues related to workload and the quality of the teaching-learning environment, and how best to respond. We will continue to meet with representatives of the board, from Director Spence and his senior team, to FOS and school implementation committees.

In the meantime, I will reissue an advisory that went out to members two and a half years ago. While addressing the SWAP situation that was the concern at that time, the principles remain the same:

- ETT members will make reasonable efforts to fulfill their responsibilities regarding reporting on student progress in the manner requested by the Board;
- Where technological problems prevent reports being completed without undue hardship, the ETT member should make a note of the nature and time of the difficulties encountered;
- Members should not have to endure extraordinary stress, frustration and wasted time attempting to make the SWAP work if the system is inadequate;
- In the event that reports cannot be submitted through the SWAP due to unreasonable problems of a technical nature, ETT members are advised that they may fulfill their professional responsibilities through other methods that have proved successful in the past;
- ETT Executive Officers will be there to support any member who encounters difficulties with administration following such a professional decision;
- Remember – our professional responsibility is for the content of the reports. We are not data entry/clerical workers – that work belongs to members of another sister union.

C: S. Hammond, ETFO
C. Spence, TDSB