With the return to school fast approaching there are still so many unanswered questions. Here is some information that may be helpful to our membership. We will continue to send out updates as we become aware of them.
Posting #4
Posting #4 can be found at www.applytoeducation.com. Applications must be submitted via applytoeducation. NO HARD COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
EA Postings # 4 - Postings are Term positions; all qualified applicants may apply.
*Please note that the closing time for all Posting # 4 assignments is 4:00 p.m on Monday August 24, 2020.
Are there any updates with our Local Negotiations?
Our Local Negotiations scheduled for August 20, 2020 were cancelled. We will let the Membership know when we have new dates.
Are September 1st, 2nd, & 3rd PD Days?
The WRDSB is waiting for final approval from the Ministry of Education on the September PD Days.
Once that information is available it will be shared with staff. At this time the ‘tentative’ plan is Board directed training on September 1st & 3rd, and the EAA PD Day on September 2nd. Once we get this information, we will share it with the Membership.

Ministry of Labour
The Ministry of Labour inspectors were making every effort to have in-person consultations with all School Boards in Ontario to review their school reopening Health and Safety protocols and procedures. WRDSB had their visit on Wednesday, August 19th.

Will I hear from the Board regarding my response to the staff survey on return to work?
If you answered ‘no’ to returning in person for any reason and you completed the inquiry/leave request form https://wrdsb.ebasefm.com/ir/index,Wellness will reach out to you with further instructions. If you submitted your medical documentation, Wellness will look at each staff on a case by case basis. The Board recently re-opened the Student Confirmation of Attendance Form after Trustees voted to require masks for all K-12 students, once final numbers are in the Board can determine where staffing needs are.
If you answered 'yes' you will be returning in person, then there is nothing more for you to do.
How are my benefits affected if I take a leave of absence without pay?
Members that take a leave without pay can participate in the ELHT (Benefit) Plan but they wouldn’t get any funding. This means Members would need to pay 100% of the premiums.
Members can play around with benefits / options in their OTIP portal to see the premiums they would need to pay. https://planmemberlogin.otip.com:4433/login/Account/Login
How will my LTD be affected if I take a leave of absence without pay?
Members can choose to maintain their LTD coverage or they can let it go, however if they are uninsured for longer than 90 days, the Pre-existing clause will be applied as a New Hire.
How is my OMERS affected if I take a leave of absence without pay?
When you return from a leave period, you may be able to purchase the period to add to your OMERS credited service. Your employer will provide you with your options and calculate the cost for you.
The decision to purchase a leave period is up to you. Weigh the cost of the purchase against how much it will increase your OMERS Plan pension. If you prefer, talk to a professional financial adviser. For an estimate of what your pension will be – with or without purchasing the leave period – please contact OMERS Member Services.
Your deadline for purchasing a leave period is December 31 of the year following the year in which your leave ended. After the deadline, you can purchase the leave period as a service buy-back but the cost calculation is quite different, usually more expensive.
I am starting a TERM position in September, will I be eligible for benefits?
TERM employees who work 17.5 hours or more per week are eligible to opt into our ELHT (Benefit) Plan. Employees with 35 hours/week receive benefits at no cost.
The Board sends employee information to OTIP every two weeks; once received OTIP reaches out to the employee for further information.
Important to note:
There is a waiting period of 90 days for new benefits to become active
For those Members with less than 35 hours/week, there will be a lump sum or catch-up payment taken out of your bank account on the 90th day.
Keep your eligible health care receipts from the first day of work and submit for reimbursement after the 90 day waiting period is over
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Just a friendly reminder to keep checking your Board and personal emails for updates and important information. As many are aware, information and directives from the Government are trickling in which is causing Boards to make last minute announcements. Rest assured that staff, in collaboration with Public Health, Trustees and Unions, are designing a comprehensive back to school plan where student and staff safety is a priority.
Thank you everyone for your patience, we know how difficult this has been as we all wait for answers. We also know so many of you are anxious and excited to get back to work and reconnect with your students. It will be up to each and everyone in the WRDSB community to do our part to help ensure a healthy and safe return.
~EAA Executive