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t jyg ymaszx v t s is education minister r isfjt writer the public school boardhas reached a tentative arrangement with its teachers unions that would mean a few more teachers in classrooms next year absent teachers would count as instructional time reid cawston chairperson of the boards nego- tiation advisory committee said officials discussed staffing issues with trustees before reaching the staffing arrangement which keeps last years stu- v dentteacher ratio 3 biit whether that arrangement stands- up- negotiators havent hammered outany con- depends on thedefinitiohof instructional time to acts and may have to make changes when the bereleasedbyeducatibnltohisterjanetecker this month v but even if the numbers change cawston said gerry harrison president of the york region- teachers arent likely to suffer major job losses branch of the ontario secondary school teachers icantsee that happening not with our federation said forcing the uruonk members to growth he said spend more time teachingis just a way to reduce the number of teachers- pi course you wont heed asrnahy teachers thats just the way the math works out hafrisbn said of the strict definition of classroom time if im teaching an extra class then you dont need anoth er teacher for thaf group harrison expects it will give his union and the board less room to negotiate as try to reach a deal before the current contract expires on aug 31 instructional time has become a contentious issue since ecker announced last month she will enact a regulation that defines teaching time and excludes the hours teachers spend covering for absent colleagues she has threatened to force teachers into supervising extracurricular activities if they resist her plan bill160 the controversial education reform that prompted illegal teacher strikes across the province two years ago requires instructors to spend more than four hours teaching in an average day negotiators agreed the time spent covering for oakf ridges mpp frank klees denied- the province is trying to get rid of teachers thats simply not true its about ensuring we have the cooperation of school boards and teach- ers unions oh what was originally made clear he said the province is only spellingout the meaning of instructional tirrie because bdthsides were engag ing in creative interpretation of the rules- he added klees said the ministry is trying to assist negoti- atioris by releasing the definition as early as possi ble he said officials will have to get back to the drawing board if they come up with unsatisfacto ry deals but he wouldnt say how the province would make boards and unions comply with the policy we are riot going to tear up collective agree- ments he said locally rumours swirled that highranking board officials bypassed trustees and held secret meetings with union negotiators lvs v r r fyj latest tmmeejlf why cut rake and weed another minute call today for a free quotation arid l get your weekends off canadas authority on grounds care 421 0midland avenue scarborough ontario tel 4162911611 n wwwclintarcbm r t qopdnd stainmaster xtra life carpet designed for active homes registered trademark of ej du pont de nemours andcorripany dupant canada inc is a licensee lllffti 45 oz wghthpp bcf dupohtnylorij stainmaster xtra life 24 excellent designer colours i oyear wear warranty f trackless 65 oz wght 100 bcf dupont nylon taihmastef xtra life amazing 90 splendid colours ip yearwarrainty r 1 1 oth guage saxony plush virtually trackless sq yrd sq yrd 55 oz wght 100 bcf dupont nylon stainmaster xtra life 24 of todays latest colour choices sure to suit any decor 10 year wear warranty virtually trackless sq yrd a wide variety of berbers level loops sisals commercial grade cut piles and graphic design selections are all reduced to sell quickly all prices above include best installation 11 mm premium underpad lifetime installation guarantee c6d customers will receive an additional 7 off m shop at home 11 laidlaw blvd markhamontariq business hours mon tuesfri 96 wed97 sat 95 16th ave markvflle mall bullock dr heritage 3 n dupont 7hwy