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Catholic board candidates weigh in on teacher compensation by Kathy Yanchus Metroland West Media Group 5 | Friday, October 3, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The role of the Halton Catholic District School Board is governance, not lobbying the Ontario government for teacher wage increases. That was the response of some HCDSB trustee candidates to a question from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA), which hosted an all-candidates event Tuesday at Corpus Christi Secondary School in Burlington. All candidates said they believe fair compensation for teachers is a priority, however, few said they would undertake lobbying. "I don't think it's the proper role of the trustee to necessarily lobby," said Paul Marai, one of the at-large Oakville trustee candidates. "The proper role may be as capable communicators. When it comes to what is best for our education system, we're one stakeholder, but we need to provide better incentives for our teaching staff and this must be a priority for the Ontario government." The board lobbies for many things, including protection of Catholic education, special education and transportation, but its role is primarily governance, said Oakville trustee candidate Alice Anne LeMay. "The bottom line is the government has taken away the board's ability to raise any dollars by taxes so the ministry is going to set whatever increases or non-increases at Queen's Park," added LeMay. Tim O'Brien, Burlington trustee candidate for Wards 1 and 2, adamantly favoured lobbying for teacher compensation. "The Memorandum of Understanding (2012 agreement between the Ministry of Education and OECTA) is over; that's my understanding. OECTA has fulfilled its part of the bargain. It is now time for the Province to pay up... Teachers who have moved up the grid have been promised their increments now, and I will work with OECTA to support these enhancements no matter what kind of lobbying needs to take place," O'Brien said. Oakville candidate Giuseppe Peritore said he would be prepared to lobby the Ontario government to the "best of my ability" in support of enhancements to educational work compensation packages. Where the goals and the mandate of the school board align with the goals of OECTA, Oakville trustee candidate Anthony Quinn said he would be a vocal supporter of teachers' efforts with the Province. He added he would not personally be accepting any financial contributions from OECTA and urged other trustees not to either. The collective bargaining process should be done at the local board level, said Burlington trustee candidate for Wards 3 and 6 Javier Rubatto, but he would "commit to helping teachers and schools get the necessary resources to meet all their challenges." Despite past and predictably future difficult economic times, Burlington candidate for Wards 4 and 5 John Morrison said whenever possible to improve the wages, working conditions and salaries "that's something I would be very interested in looking into." Calling the question "loaded," Oakville trustee candidate Darnell Vrban said the issue of salaries is not a local challenge, but a ministry one, and that he would work closely with fellow trustees for the benefit of both teachers and the board. In its second and final question, OECTA asked all candidates what they believed was the difference between the Catholic and the public education system. HCDSB is different from its public counterparts because although the public board may cite qualities such as compassion in their mission statement, and may expect it at work, "for us it is way of life lived 24/7, a joyful obligation to live a Christ-like life. Parents sending their children to our school expect it and children need a Christ-centered example," said Helena Karabela, Oakville trustee candidate. Vrban called it a "necessary challenge" to maintain two separate educational systems. The difference between the two systems isn't anything other than non-tangible, said Quinn. "It's the intangible feelings that we want to imbue in our children when they are in our system and it's the same things we want our teachers and educational workers to experience when they're involved in the school system," said Quinn. see Candidates on p.9 A STEP BEYOND IN CARE Do you have: Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist · Foot/Arch Pain? · Ingrown Toenails? · Diabetes? · Swollen Ankles? · Corns, Calluses? Call for an appointment 905-632-1414 728 Burloak Drive www.footandhealthclinic.com BE WISE... WINTERIZE Roger Ferguson; owner of Jiffy Lube Burlington and Oakville says, Savings, Service, Air Miles. It's right here...at Jiffy Lube. 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