The Durham District School Board (DDSB) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers` Federation (OSSTF) recently reached a collective agreement after several months of negotiations. The agreement covers the working conditions and salaries of teachers in the DDSB.

One significant change in the agreement is the introduction of a professional activity day. This day will provide teachers with time to collaborate with colleagues, engage in professional development, and participate in school-based activities. The DDSB and OSSTF hope that this day will improve the overall quality of education and help teachers develop new skills and knowledge.

The collective agreement also includes changes to the salary grid. The salary of teachers will increase by 1.5% in each year of the agreement, which lasts until August 2024. This increase is in line with other public sector collective agreements and is intended to keep pace with the rising cost of living. The agreement also includes changes to the way that teachers are evaluated, with more emphasis on teacher-led evaluations and peer feedback.

While the agreement was reached without any significant disruptions or strikes, negotiations were not without their challenges. Both parties had to work hard to find common ground on issues such as class sizes, professional development, and workload management. However, the DDSB and OSSTF are now confident that this agreement will help ensure the success of students in Durham Region.

For those looking to learn more about the DDSB OSSTF collective agreement, it is available online on the DDSB website. The full text of the agreement includes details on class sizes, workload management, teacher evaluations, and other important issues. Overall, this agreement represents an important step forward for education in Durham Region and demonstrates the power of collaboration and compromise in achieving success.