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~bt (mabtanhawt Vnl 1~QNn É m~ 1vietr'Joian %...AJIunIitiLy wspJpe V"*'** *14V. ,41 1- '----r Impasse reach ed By KIM ARNOTT Special to The Champion Talks between the Halton Catholic District School Board and its 375 high school teachers have reached an impasse, but no one' s sure exactly what that wil mean for thousands of local students on the first day of school. Negotiations between the board and the union representing the teachers broke down after a short meeting last Wednesday and no further talks have been scheduled. A press release from bJe Pece, president of the Halton secondary unit of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECIFA), said the board for- mally rejected a teachers' offer that would have seen the school year "begmn without disruption to students." Mr. Pece said the teachers were pre- pared to return to work and satisfy the conditions of Bll 160 while leaving con- tentious issues to arbitration at a later date. While teachers reported to the schools last T'hursday for a scheduled professional development day, Mr. Pece said the union is stili deciding what sanctions could be imposed on the first day of school today (Tuesday). Strie action could range from a suspen- se. RO BOARD on page 3 Dream Homoe Lotery on again in Oakvlle The Community Foundation of Oakville is once again holding The Great Dream Home Lottery. A $100 ticket offers the chance to win a new home, 1999 Ford Windstar, Canibbean vacation, cash and many other prizes. For details on where tickets can be purchased, cati 845-5547. Back to school Slx-year-eld Shanese Steele, wlth mem Linda, makes her wOy up Wlson Drive toward Rebert Baldwin Public $chool. She and thousands et other youngsters acrose the reglon retum to claseroems today. Abandoned house bumns Teachers in public board will be there By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion Both elemnentary and secondary teachers at Halton public schools will start the year in the classroomn, union officiais have confirmed. But while an elementary teacher representative talked about "break- throughs" in negotiations, a sec- ondary teacher representative is uncertain about how long they will stay in class k "Ail teachers will be in class on Tuesday," AI Tanner, president of District 9 of the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation said Friday. "We don't want to place people in the position of not know- ing what's going to happen." AI Tanner But there was still the possibility secondary teachers would eventually stnike or taIre some formn of job action. He said the union may review its position because it is opposed to the board making unilateral contract changes. They should be negotiating a fair settlement," said Mr. Tanner. The board confirmed it passed a resolution Thursday night implementing changes required by provincial legislation and reg- ulation. The board statement said the changes would affect class size and teacher instructional time. *..in order to abide by the law, we must put in place these staffing changes as part of the board's pmocess to deal with the implementation of Bill 160 (now known as the Education Quality Improvement Act) and to stay within the restrictive funding enve- lope designated for staffing under the Ministsy's new funding for- muta," said Trustee Debbie Marklew, chair of the board's sec- ondary negotiations committee. "It is very important to note that we respect our teachers and the negotiation process," Ms Marklew added. "We wilt continue to negotiate in good faith with our teachers, and it is our hope that we can reach mutually acceptable collective agreements." Staffing requirements under the new provincial act state that secondary teachers handle seven courses per year instead of six. Under semestering, this means providing 80 more minutes of daily classroom instruction for haif the school year. Mr. Tanner said the union will continue to oppose this require- ment. "We don't think extendinig teachers' classroom time wiIl help the quality of public education," he said. "It will sufer so drasti- cally." Th'e board is in a position to revise contracts with secondary and elementary teachers because their agreements expired August 31. No-board reports, which lay the groundwork for a strike or lockout, have been filed in both cases. But elementary teachers have not taken the required strike vote, while secondary teachers asee BREAKTHROUGHS on page 3 $500 shopping spree te b. w@nl 4*- i fi 1 -)y, ý%jz 'ST included) 1-4 rages Tuesdav. Sevtember 8, 1998 Val - 139 No. 52 À Mi-trnlnnti (nmmilnitv M.-xmQnnné-r