Quick Reference Guide to Surplus and Redundancy
Revised Sept 2014
Surplus
Redundancy
Definitions
When a SCHOOL has more staff than teaching assignments allocated,
a teacher may be declared surplus to that school.
When there are more teachers than there are teaching assignments
in the SYSTEM, a teacher may be declared redundant to the system.
Therefore, they do not have a position in the system for the next
school year, unless recalled due to additional vacancies becoming
available.
Do I still have a job?
YES - If you are surplus, you will have a position in the SYSTEM, but
may not be at your original school
NO - There are not enough positions in the SYSTEM at this point in
time. The Federation and Employer will work to get you recalled as
soon as possible
Seniority Rights
Surplus teachers are declared in Seniority order from the bottom of
the SCHOOL seniority list; some protection may be offered to those
who are qualified in certain program areas deemed essential by the
Employer
Redundant teachers are declared in Seniority order from the bottom
of the SYSTEM seniority list; no exceptions for program qualifications
AShort-Term@ Recall
Rights
Surplus teachers may be recalled in seniority order, subject to
qualifications considerations, to their original school until June 15
before the upcoming school year if a vacancy becomes available
Redundant teachers will be placed on a Recall List. As vacancies
become available after the Staffing Process is completed in May,
recall will occur in Seniority order; qualifications of redundant
teachers will be a consideration
ALong-Term@ Recall
Rights
Surplus teachers may also exercise their Right of Recall by sending a
note / letter to their ORIGINAL school=s principal by February 28
requesting consideration for recall during the Staffing Process for the
following school year. This right only applies to the following
school year and expires after that point.
Redundant teachers who are not recalled before the beginning of
the school year will remain on the recall list until an assignment is
offered them for up to THREE years
As a SURPLUS teacher, if you refuse your assignment to another
school, you have RESIGNED from the Board.
As a REDUNDANT teacher, if you refuse a THIRD position for which
you are qualified, you have RESIGNED from the Board (you can
refuse the first two, but not the third offer). You have also
Aresigned from the Board@ if you are not available to start within
three weeks of notice of recall
What if I refuse an
assignment offer
from the Board?
FAQ=s - Frequently Asked Questions about Surplus and Redundancy
Surplus Teacher Questions
I am a surplus teacher who has been assigned to a
different school for the next school year. Can I refuse
the move to this school?
NO - If you refuse the assignment to your new school, you have RESIGNED from the Board. It is no
different than any other teacher refusing their assignment at any school, including their home school.
members are often reminded, you work for the BOARD, not for the SCHOOL.
I was surplus from my home school last year, and then
a contract vacancy came up during the school year for
which I am qualified. Don=t I automatically get
recalled?
NO - As noted above, recall from surplus can only occur before June 15 after the Staffing Process has been
completed for the upcoming school year, OR during the staffing process for the following school year (and
only that school year) if a vacancy were available, provided you contacted your original school=s principal
by February 28 to request recall.
But, there is posting for a vacancy at my old school that
has come up during the school year, can I apply for that
position?
YES - So long as you are qualified for that position, you may apply for it. Any contract teacher may apply
to any contract position that comes up at any time. However, be aware of the FTE of the position. If
you are a 1.0 FTE teacher and you accept a 0.5 FTE position, you are now a 0.5 FTE teacher in the system.
You would need to apply for an increase to 1.0 FTE by February 28. See Article 24.09.02 for more details
on changing your FTE.
As
Redundant Teacher Questions
A)
Recall, Contacting You for Recall, and Assignment Offers
Can I be recalled to a different school?
YES - You are an employee of the Board not just the school. You will be welcome at any school.
What is the order of recall?
Recall is by order of seniority, subject to qualifications consideration.
Someone below me in Seniority was recalled before I
was. Can they do that?
YES - If the person recalled Abelow@ you on the Seniority List had qualifications for a vacancy that became
available and you did not have those qualifications, a person below you in seniority may be offered that
position.
It=s the first day of school in September and I=m still on
the recall list; I still don=t have a position. Do I still my
benefits paid for by the Board?
NO - Under Article 24.05.10, subject to eligibility requirements, if you are still on the recall list, you may
participate in the Board=s Benefit Plan, but you must pay all of the premiums until you are recalled.
Can I be offered a position less than what we were
hired for?
YES - We try to match your FTE, but even if you accept a position that is a lower FTE, you are still entitled
to recoup your full FTE with future offerings.
I will be away for the summer, can someone else
accept a position for me?
You need to provide us with a contact number to be reached at. Please contact Colleen Bulger and
Darlene Willis to discuss it. If we can not get in touch within 72 hours of calling with a recall offering, we
will move on to the next person and it does not count as a refusal.
Is there a way we will be updated about recall and our
status on the list?
B)
C)
YES - HR will provided regular updates to a special Teacher Recall Secondary conference on First Class that
only HR, the Federation and Redundant teachers will have access to. HR will update the recall list through
this conference.
If there are redundancies, are requests for transfers by
non-redundant teachers still done?
YES - If openings exist, transfers will be processed.
When recalling teachers to vacant positions does the
Board try to place people as close as possible to their
last school? Do they try to put them where they want
to be geographically?
YES and YES - However, there is absolutely no guarantee. The priority is to find redundant teachers a
position in the system somewhere, but the board does try to accommodate requests.
If my contact information change who do I let know?
Email Colleen Bulger and Darlene Willis at the Board.
Seniority
If someone retires, does the first redundant teacher on
the seniority list come off the top?
There are two different process that happen if the retirement occurs before the staffing day on the May
Staffing Day or after that date. If it occurs before that date, the teachers is made Aun-redundant@ and goes
back into the mix at their school where they could be placed, made surplus, transferred, etc. After that
date, when openings occur, teaches are recalled by order of seniority (subject to qualification to teach the
opening). We have some flexibility around non-restricted subjects and reorganizing within the school that
can assist in placements.
If I am on the supply list, do I maintain my spot on the
Seniority List?
YES - Your spot on the Seniority List is based on your date of hire as a contract Secondary Teacher.
come off the seniority list only if you resign OR you are not recalled after three years.
Does my past experience with other Boards not
increase by seniority with this Board?
Past external contract experience serves only to break ties in seniority.
You
Occasional Teacher Work
It=s getting close to the new school year, and I still do
not have a contract position for the next school year.
Can I apply for any LTOs or do daily Occasional Teacher
work?
YES - If you are already on the Occasional Teacher List, you will be eligible for any daily Occasional Teacher
work. Also, you may apply for LTO positions in a fair competition against all other Occasional Teachers
with no special preference. However, if you are not, or have never been on the OT List with this Board,
your are not eligible for OT work. In that case, you will need to email Colleen Bulger to request
placement on the OT List.
Regardless of your situation, you will still retain your Right to Recall under
the Teacher Collective Agreement under Article 24.05.
What happens if I accept an LTO position and am then
offered a contract position?
You can accept the position, the employer will remove you from the LTO
assignment.
I am on leave what should I do about SmartFind?
Call the board and ask to speak to the SmartFind/SEMS Operator.
Follow up with an email.
D)
Access to Board Benefits
It=s the first day of school in September and I=m still on
the recall list; I still don=t have a position. Do I still my
benefits paid for by the Board?
E)
F)
G)
NO - Under Article 24.05.10, subject to eligibility requirements, if you are still on the recall list, you may
participate in the Board=s Benefit Plan, but you must pay all of the premiums until you are recalled. To
arrange to purchase benefits, please contact Barb Lawrence.
Redundancy and Leaves
What happens if I go on Maternity leave prior to being
declared redundant?
You are still redundant and subject to recall. If your leave begins before
September 1, 2012, you will keep your benefits for the duration of the statutory
leave.
What happens if I am still on a leave?
If you are recalled, you will need to take a position and we will back fill with an LTO until your return date.
Getting Additional Qualifications
Do you have any suggestion re: gaining additional
qualifications that could assist with recall?
One option is to look at the requirements for restricted subjects on the OCT
website.
What if I receive additional qualifications over the
summer?
Email Colleen Bulger and Darlene Willis at the Board.
How do I let the board know that I have experience
teaching courses that do not have qualification
requirements (as this information may be helpful
during recall).
Email Colleen Bulger and Darlene Willis at the Board.
Employment Insurance
What will be the start date for unemployment
purposes, and can I collect E.I. over the summer?
st
The start date for unemployment purposes is the 1 of September.
collect E.I. during the summer.
Therefore, you are not eligible to