Last winter our school division was buried under a heap of snow. Then the school division staff was buried under a heap of make-up time. Forty-four hours. Overtime-exempt (teachers) and non-exempt employees (custodians, cafeteria staff, etc.) alike had to account for every single minute by June.
Then last week a memo was circulated announcing a change in the policy for inclement weather closures: days missed would now be paid. No more make-up requirement for staff.
It was this justification that got my attention:
“Furthermore, administration also acknowledged teachers routinely work beyond contract hours to evaluate assessments, grade student work, complete lesson plans, meet with parents, support school events etc.“
Do you know what this is? ***An official acknowledgement by administration that teachers ROUTINELY put in extra hours.***
The memo was followed by a letter from the superintendent in which he reiterates this astounding bit of administrative truth-telling:
“Not only will these changes allow for consistency in the region, it also, in my belief, better reflects our understanding that in public education, work extends well beyond the walls of the building and the hours of the school day.”
Now that the higher-ups have acknowledged this work-for-no-pay reality for teachers, let’s see if we can move the ball further... Comp time would be a start. Better yet, remove the overtime exemption entirely. Then we’ll see if teachers are still underpaid.