May+1st+Council+Day+Alternate+Proposals

Click here for Memo to School Reps

toc =Guidelines for Council Days=

The NBTA believes that Professional Development is the continual renewal of personal knowledge and expertise that leads to improved professional competence in support of student learning. (NBTA Board of Directors Statement of Beliefs, February 2002)

The school calendar currently identifies three (3) professional development days for activities planned by teachers, for teachers. It is of utmost importance both to our profession and to maintain these days, that they be used for their intended purpose – professional growth.

Fall Council Days
1. Fall Council days which are Branch-Based, are compulsory for all staff. No alternate proposals are to be accepted for those days.

2. Fall Council days which are School-Based are also mandatory.

Spring Council Days
For Spring Council days, all teachers are required to participate in professional development and are urged to attend their Council conference.

Free registration will be provided to student teachers who attend Council workshops.

Alternate Proposals
In the event that a teacher is unable to attend the spring council conference, an alternative proposal for an independent professional development activity should be submitted to the School-Based Professional Development Committee four (4) weeks prior to the council day. (Guidelines for School-Based PD Committees are outlined in NBTA Members’ Handbook and/or on NBTA Website www.nbta.ca.)

The proposal should clearly identify the nature, location and duration of the activity and the intended impact on the teacher’s professional growth. A Provincial Council Day Plan Form must be completed.

Role of School-Based Professional Development Committee

The School-Based PD Committee has the responsibility of accepting or rejecting alternate proposals based on these guidelines. Proposals which fall outside the guidelines may be forwarded to the Branch Professional Development Chair who will confer with the Committee of PD Chairs from the district and/or the NBTA Director of Professional Development.

The following activities are not considered professional development and are therefore not acceptable as alternate proposals:

a. course preparation b. marking c. classroom work d. student sessions e. co-curricular and extracurricular activities f. any work which is a required part of the teaching assignment


 * No event/session should be organized by District/Department staff or school-based administration.

(Policy 602 NBTA Members Handbook) Jan 17/03//**
 * //It is the responsibility of every member of the NBTA to become involved and participate actively in available professional development programs.

Please complete this form and return it to your school Professional Development Committee representative prior to April 3rd, 2009.



__This form, once completed and collected, will be forwarded to the Principal as a record of your attendance__.