The board of education for School District 43 has promised to look into an issue about teachers' pay that arose after educators returned to work on Sept. 19.
Board chair Melissa Hyndes promised an angry group of teachers who attended the board meeting Tuesday night that "we will be looking into it further."
Her comment came after CTA president Charley King expressed anger and frustration that full-time teachers were only paid for seven days in September, although they worked eight, including Sept. 19, the day they returned to work to get classrooms set up for back-to-school.
"I'm just dumbfounded to be perfectly honest," King said, noting that part time teachers got paid for the day and that teachers were told when they returned to work they would be paid for the day.
He said if that wasn't the case, teachers should have been told. "We don't look for things not to do," King said.
Secretary Treasurer Mark Ferrari explained that the teachers were paid based on the collective agreement, which states that the teachers' monthly salary is based on 20 days. Subtracting 13 strike days from the month resulted in teachers getting paid for seven days in September.
The district estimates paying the teachers for the day would be about $750,000 plus benefits, according to Ferrari.
Trustees also expressed concern about the issue, with Anmore/Belcarra trustee Holly Butterfield noting she was contacted by teachers upset about not getting paid for that day.
But several teachers in the crowd were not happy with the district's response, with one yelling out "I worked for eight days, I want to be paid for eight days."
Teachers have also been active on Twitter expressing their displeasure or offering alternative suggestions. Noted one:
"I believe I shouldn't be paid for the 13 days we weren't working,but it's kind of mean to deduct all of them from the 1st cheque"
