Villanova teacher suspensions rescinded, but events cancelled
The 11 Villanova Secondary School teachers who were suspended indefinitely Monday were reinstated Tuesday, but several events have been postponed as the effects of the nine-day old strike by Catholic school board support staff widened.
The teachers were suspended for alleged insubordination after they were asked by administration to move into another line entering school property. The teachers expressed safety concerns with the heavy traffic and claimed they were waiting for police direction before moving.
“The allegations were 100 per cent untrue,” said Brian Hogan, president of the local chapter of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association.
“They told the employer they’d pull out of the queue on the advice of police.
“This was all about creating a chill (in teachers) and sending a message to Unifor that they’re playing hardball.”
Stephen Fields, the communications co-ordinator for the WindsorEssex Catholic District School Board, had no comment on the rescinded suspensions.
However, Fields did confirm Friday’s professional development day activities were postponed along with all WECSSAA football games involving the board’s schools.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty with people going in and out of certain facilities and we didn’t want all those people having to cross a picket line,” Fields said.
Only one of the four games was to be played at a Catholic high school (St. Anne). Two were at Windsor Stadium and one was at the public board’s Leamington District High School. New dates for the games are under discussion.
Fields said there would still be no classes for students Friday. Instead, teachers will do self-directed professional development at home.
The university information night scheduled for Nov. 9 at Holy Names Catholic High School and Friday’s Together in Faith Day scheduled for Friday at the WFCU Centre have also been postponed.
“We’re working to find another site for the university information night because we understand that’s important to students making choices for university,” Fields said.
During Tuesday night’s board meeting, about 30 striking support staff stopped cars and handed out flyers outside the California Avenue office with Windsor police and members of a private security firm on hand.
Although the strike wasn’t on the agenda, parents and students later voiced concerns about how the dispute was being handled.
Cassandra Armstrong, a Grade 12 student at Villanova, said she hadn’t attended more than one class each day for the past week.
“Basically we’ve been sitting in the cafeteria being babysat by our principal,” she said of school days that begin with nearly 800 students waiting for their teachers to get through the picket line.
“The board is worried about our education, they say it’s the No. 1 priority, but then they suspended 11 of our teachers, which doesn’t feel like they’re putting our education first.”
Nicole Frowley, another Villanova student, said students are tired of being treated “like pawns” and have serious concerns about how the strike could harm their chances of securing post-secondary education.
“All of our guidance councillors were suspended, so Grade 12 students looking to apply for university or scholarships were really hurt,” she said. “All the students care about is our education and we want it back.”
While the Villanova suspensions were lifted, Hogan said this issue isn’t over for the 11 teachers.
OECTA is going ahead with grievances against the board to recover the two days of pay the teachers lost and to get the letter of suspension out of the individual’s files.
“An indefinite suspension without pay was over the top,” Hogan said. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Hogan said the board’s heavyhanded approach risks alienating teachers and is “a diversion from the fact there’s no talks going on.”
With the strike entering it’s 10th day Wednesday, there are signs of fraying patience.
There was an incident Monday at a picket line at Assumption Middle School.
Four pickets jumped on the hood of a car that was trying to get through a picket line. Windsor police were investigating the incident, but so far no charges have been laid.
“We don’t want situations like that on the line,” said Fields, who was aware of the incident but opted not to comment with police investigating. “We urge people to be calm, responsible and leave extra time.”