How you as an educator, can get involved during the Pandemic

BY PAUL JUNOR

It has been over six weeks now since schools have been closed, and many educator sectors are concerned. The provincial government has called on: custodial, maintenance, food preparation workers, children and youth workers, educational assistants and office support staff to help alleviate staffing needs in congregate care settings.

In a news release by the office of the premier on May 9^th, 2020, Minister of Education, Stephen Leece states, “We need people to step up and continue to step up in a big way. We need to be brave, to be compassionate and to serve. I believe it will help save lives.” This is meant to encourage workers in the education industry to explore volunteering options.

The impact of COVID-19 on long-term care homes and retirement homes has been significant. The Premier knows this personally as his mother-law is at Eatonville Retirement home, which has been, greatly affected. Premier Ford states, “Our priority continues to be protecting our most vulnerable citizens and the dedicated staff that care for them, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of our long-term care homes and shelters are short of staff. I am encouraging any available educational workers to help out if you can, because you make a real difference in the lives of those most in need.” Many of the health care professionals and personal support workers have tested positive as well as three who have died.

In order to facilitate this temporary redeployment of education workers, the government had to approve an emergency order. This order ensures that school board employees, who chose to, would be able to volunteer in congregate care settings for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. This emergency order gives school boards the authority to develop and implement staff redeployment plans. It would ensure that staff that volunteer to be redeployed would maintain their current employment status and all their compensation and benefits. According to Education Minister, Stephen Leece in a news release on May 9^th,”While all the Trustee Associations that represented school boards, and many of the unions have confirmed their willingness to help out, there is no provision within the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act to redeploy staff to non-education employees.”

On May 13^th, 2020, it was announced in a news release by the Office of the Premier that a framework was approved to ensure the voluntary redeployment of education staff. Premier Ford states, “We put out a call to our education workers to come the aid of: our hospital staff, our LTC homes, our retirement homes, group homes, our homeless shelters, women’s shelters and other congregate facilities. The response has been overwhelming, our school boards, trustee associations and trade unions have agreed to redeploy education workers who aren’t currently involved in at home learning.”

The acceptance by the four trustees associations, the Public Sector unions and four teachers’ union signalled an extraordinary level of collaboration. Any education workers, occasional teachers, or casual education worker staffs who are not currently receiving federal support is eligible. Workers who register will receive information from their local employer and local union. They will be matched based on their: skill set, staffing needs and region.

They will receive on-board training and appropriate safety equipment. They may not be able to guarantee where they are redeployed, which could be a location with or without an active COVID-19 outbreak.

It is truly encouraging that many education workers have decided to serve others during these challenging times. The pandemic pay of an extra $4 per hour or $250 per month, and emergency child care services are incentives yet pale in terms of the of the personal, emotional and psychological benefits of helping such vulnerable populations. The option to quit at any time by the employee, employer, the employee’s home position or receiving employer may be tempting. The health and safety will be a priority in these settings.

Any education worker who is interested in volunteering can sign up by visiting

http://ontario.ca/dxuf