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Public school board opposes hiring law By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Ontario's Bill-115 (Putting Students First Act) has received opposition from teachers and school support workers -- and now the Halton District School Board is getting in on the action. Trustees voted unanimously last week to petition the Ministry of Education and Minister Laurel Broten to rescind a regulation that affects board hiring practices. Regulation 274/12 requires school boards to hire teachers for permanent and longterm occasional positions based on seniority from its roster of occasional teachers. Oakville trustee Kathryn BatemanOlmstead, who brought the motion forward, said the regulation affects students in the classroom. Previous hiring practices allowed boards to hire teachers at will. Director of Education David Euale said the new regulation will prevent hiring the best person for the job and it will hinder the board in recruiting new teachers. As an example, a teacher who wants to move from one school board to another, would have to quit their job and start over in an occasional short-term position at a new school board, according to Euale. Another issue, he noted, is when the board fills a short-term teaching position, it could not later lengthen the term, but would have to post a new job for an occasional long-term position. That could result in students having as many as three teachers in a short period of time. Chair Don Vrooman quoted Broten out of a Toronto Star article last August. "Young teachers are the fuel that keep the engines of our education system running... their energy, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives are exactly what our schools need," Broten was quoted as saying. "This legislation shuts out young teachers," Vrooman charged. "It's exactly the opposite of what the minister has promised." The letter of opposition to this new regulation is being copied to each Ontario MPP, the chair and director of education of each public school board in the province, and the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA). NIKE SOCCER 13 · Wednesday, October 10, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com NOW AVAILABLE! BURLINGTON'S 2394 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON WWW.FACTORYSHOEOUTLET.CA 905-632-9688 it all started when I heard the "C" word... Nothing had prepared me to hear the word cancer. Last November, after weeks of unbearable stomach pain, I had an emergency CT scan at my hospital here in Oakville. That test and a follow-up biopsy confirmed that I had lymphoma and needed immediate chemotherapy treatment outside of our community. Overnight I went from being the caregiver to my family to the one that needed their support, like helping me get to my medical appointments. Today, I am cancer-free and ready for this new stage in my life's journey. Our new hospital will change the way cancer care is delivered for Oakville residents, but more than 30,000 pieces of new equipment are needed for our new hospital. Every piece is critical and every piece must be funded by our community. It all starts here with your help. Please give generously. OakvilleHospitalFoundation.com Please call 905 338 4642 to make a difference by donating to the Oakville Hospital Foundation. Charitable Registration #: 13145-3490 RR0001 The Oakville Hospital Foundation is grateful for the generous support of our media sponsor, the Oakville Beaver. Linda Busch and her husband Dan at Lakeside Park, Oakville Brigitte Elise Photography