Tentative agreement for public elementary teachers

JOINT NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS' FEDERATION OF ONTARIO

*************************** Algoma District School Board and elementary teachers reach tentative new four-year agreement

SAULT STE. MARIE - (April 27) - The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) and Elementary Teachers' Federation [of Ontario] (ETFO) employees have reached a tentative four-year agreement to cover the period from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2012.

The board and its elementary teachers have been working without an agreement since August 31, 2008.

Both parties believe this agreement is in accordance with Provincial Discussion Table, and both parties have agreed to jointly submit the contract terms to the Ministry to ensure compliance with the Provincial Discussion Table parameters.

Ratification by both parties will occur over the next two weeks.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with our elementary teachers who play a vital role for our students to be able to reach their full potential and therefore, in shaping the future of our community. We are also very pleased to continue to strengthen our relationships which provide a positive learning environment for our students," said ADSB chair Wanda McQueen.

Vel Liut, president of the Algoma District Elementary Teachers' Bargaining Unit said: "We are pleased to announce that negotiations between the Algoma District School Board and the Algoma District Elementary Teachers' Federation have ended with a tentative settlement on behalf of public elementary school teachers. The terms of this agreement provide improvements that we believe will meet with the approval of our membership and will maintain their ability to focus their attention on providing students with quality education."

Director of education, Mario Turco notes: "We have now reached agreements with all of our employee groups. This represents the commitment of all our employee groups to remain focused on improving our system and to ensuring that student achievement and student success continue to be our priority."

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