Principals, vice-principals and supervisory staff

We want principals, vice-principals and other supervisory staff to increase their focus as instructional leaders in their schools, and to remove the conflicts currently faced by administrators. This will model the standard administrative model for workplaces, similar to what is in place for Nova Scotia’s nurses. Administrators will move from the NSTU to a professional association, to be called the Public School Administrators Association. While the association is not a union and will be separate from the NSTU, it will be affiliated with the union. Association members will not able to take job action or engage in collective bargaining. The affiliation will fully protect existing compensation and benefits. The association will clearly define administrators as the managers and educational leaders within our schools.

Seniority will be protected, as will existing compensation, benefits, and pension. While the new professional association will not be a union and will be separate from the NSTU, it will be affiliated with the NSTU. The affiliation will ensure seniority and compensation are protected, and principals, vice-principals and other supervisory staff receive the same benefits and pension they do now. Any salary or benefit enhancements negotiated by the NSTU for its members will also be provided to principals, vice-principals and other supervisory staff.

Yes, administrators can decide to move to the classroom and stay in the NSTU, or stay in their current role and move out of the union. As long as the association is affiliated with the NSTU, administrators will be able to move between the association, as an administrator, and the union, as a teacher, any year, not just the first year, while having their seniority protected.

Seniority will be protected and administrators will be able to move between the association (as an administrator) and the union (as a teacher), any year, not just the first year while the association and the union are affiliated.

Principals and vice-principals cannot bump other teachers out of positions now. Bumping or displacement would not occur in the future either.

Yes. In three provinces – British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec – principals and vice-principals are not unionized.

Their existing compensation and benefits (including pension) will be fully protected. Any salary or benefit enhancements negotiated by the NSTU for its members will also be provided to principals, vice-principals and other supervisory staff.

Yes. Principals and vice-principals will remain as certified teachers and will continue to be able to teach, to a maximum of 50% of their time.

No. Principals and vice-principals are the educational leaders in our schools now, and will continue to be. These changes will give our principals and vice-principals greater autonomy and independence so they can be the instructional leaders we need them to be.

Dr. Glaze also acknowledges that principals should not have to spend time on building maintenance issues. We agree and will act to make this happen so principals can focus on instructional leadership.

The province provides legal support for its staff who are performing their duties in good faith. Principals, vice-principals and other supervisory staff would be entitled to the support that the province provides to its existing non-union staff.

Yes. Administrators will be able to access the PD funds that currently exist through the collective agreement.