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Catholic teacher ‘exodus’ denied
by Moira MacDonald
Toronto Sun

Dufferin-Peel’s Catholic school board is facing an “exodus” of high school teachers
fleeing for better conditions elsewhere, the teachers’ union warned yesterday.
Between 75 and 85 of the board’s 1,450 high school teachers have handed in their
resignations or intentions to retire since Jan. 12.
That was the day an arbitrator imposed a new contract increasing teachers’ workloads.
“There has never been a changeover from first semester to second semester like this, “
union spokesman Brock Commeford said.
Nine out of 130 teachers have left St. Joseph’s Catholic high school in Mississauga and
another 15 at the school are interviewing for jobs at other boards.
“You can put any spin you like on it but we’re certainly not having a mass exodus,” said
Vince Nicholo, board human resources director.
He said the board anticipated the “surge” in resignations and has hired some
replacements.
The school board said only 54 of its high school teachers have officially said they’re
leaving, although 44 of those announced their plans in the last month.
“No doubt some people are dissatisfied by the working conditions here,” said Nicholo.
But he said “half” of those are relocating to schools closer to their homes, which now
have openings because of widespread teacher shortages.
Teachers only have to give two weeks notice before leaving their jobs. Previously, they
could only quit at the end of June or end of December.