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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 1982, PAGE 7 Secondary sehool teachers and board in stalemate Contract talks be- tween the Durham Board of Education and Secondary School teach- ers continue to flounder despite the completion last week of a "fact fin- der's" report designed to help resolve the dis- pute. The report, which clarifies areas of agree- nient and disagreement between the two parties and makes recommen- dations for settlement, was prepared after talks broke off in Sep- tember over salary, st.affing and benefit issues. But it appears that, several of these issues still remain unresolved despite the fact-finder's efforts to bring the two sides together. At a November 1 negotiation meeting, talks once again fizzled out and no new negotia- tion meetings have been scheduled. "We were unable to make any headway with the staffing issue at the meeting," Barb Glass, chief negotiator for the teachers, told the Free Press. The contentious issue in staffing is the calcula- tion of the region's pupil-teacher ratio (PTR). Durham has one of the highest PTR's in talks fizzle out despite report the province, which means a heavier work- load for teachers and less individual attention for students. Teachers are demanding that special education teachers not be included in the PTR, while the Board is reluc- tant to commit itself on the matter. New legislation will soon require the Board to greatly increase the number of special edu- cation teachers, but the cost will be subsidized by the Ministry and will remain separate from the regular budget. If special education teachers are included in the PTR, it will appear to be reduced, but in fact it will not, Glass says. "The average PTR in Ontario last year was 16.4 to one," Glass says. "In Durham Region we were at 17.44 to one." Glass says Durham teachers are already substantially behind the rest of the province with regard to PTR. Accord-- ing to Trustee John Buchanan, it costs ap- proximately $1 million to lower the PTR by one point. " Region has one of the highest PTR's" With the incoming re- straint legislation, it is likely that the teachers' salaries will be limited to a maximum of nine percent. "This year the re- straint legislation is Board is ready to talk overriding, or influenc- ing, the negotiations," Education Chairman Monroe says. "The par- ties can continue to talk, but if an agreement is $1 million to reduce PTR not reached before the new legislation comes in, the dispute will go to the new Restraint Board." Glass, however, said she believes negotia- tions can still continue within the guidelines of the new legislation. "This board has never been in a hurry to bar- gain without a third par- ty," Glass said. The teachers have asked that a mediator be appointed to help set- tle the current contract dispute. Report from Queen'.s Park fwmm By The Hon. George Ashe, MPP (PC - Durham West) Ontario Minister of Revenue At this time of the year, we tend to take our home furnaées for granted, assuming that they will con- tinue to operate in a safe and efficient manner. In oider for a furnace to operate efficiently, particular attention must be given to an adequate fresh air supply and the maintenance of a good chimney. Homeowners with fuel-fired furnaces have recently expressed some concern about the possi- bility of carbon monoxide poisoning occurring in their homes. The Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Rela- tions has responded to this concern by distributing information which should clarify the issues for these homeowners. The safe, efficient operation of heating systems demands that chimneys are properly mai#tained, burners and furnaces are pro- perly adjusted and adequate combustion air is provided. Although most of us realize that a furnace re- quires annual cleaning and servicing, not everyone checks to ensure that their chimney is clear of ob- structions - a clean and clear chimney is essential for a safe and efficient heating system. The Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Rela- tions advises that not only your furnace, but also your chimney should-be inspected by a registered contractor either before or after each heating sea- son. In this way, potential problems can be averted. Homeowners should be familiar with the tell-tale signs of chimney problems: • White powder or water stains on the chimney above the roof. These are caused by condensation, which can be eroding the brick and mortar. • Dampness or signs of condensation inside the house from the base of the chimney in the base- ment. • Loose mortar or bricks inside the cleanout door at the base of the chimney which could block safe vent- ing of the furnace. Any of these signs indicate déterioration 0f the chimney structure and suggest that a chimney liner is required. Many homeowners have installed tile or transite liners inside their chimney to prevent the erosion of brick and chimney mortar by the corrosive conden- sation caused by the combustion process. Furnaces and. fireplaces require an adequate supply of fresh air in order to burn properly. Lack of fresh air in your home may cause the natural flow of gases up the chimney to be reversed allowing out- side air back inside the house. If this occurs and the furnace is operating, these gases, which may con- tain the by-products of combustion, could create a carbon monoxide danger to those people inside the bouse. The cold weather is well on the way, and this would be an ideal time to take a few hours to ensure that your furnace is in the*best condition to provide you and your family with an energy efficient, and safe heating system for themonths ahead.