After serving three years as the Sunshine Coast Teachers' Association (SCTA) president, Denis Fafard has decided not to run again choosing to let others carry on teacher advocacy.
The SCTA holds annual elections to choose its representative and Fafard chose not to enter his name in the running.
Being president "has so many dimensions," Fafard said. "I've met a lot of people. I probably know every teacher in the district now."
Fafard said classically the role of president is to negotiate for the economic welfare of teachers, but the role comprises so much more.
"It's important work. The union does a lot more for teachers than that," he said.
Fafard's final president's message for the June SCTA newsletter highlighted the issues he thinks need continued attention. Bill 33, regarding class size and composition, topped the list followed by the Foundations Skills Assessment test that many teachers oppose as a way to determine children's learning. Next was the provincial election and the importance of holding the government accountable for the next four years. Lastly, Fafard cited upcoming mid-contract modifications. Starting in October, Fafard said the newly elected executive committee, led by president Jenny Garrels, will resume meetings.
Fafard said the things to watch locally are senior management decisions around how students with special needs are educated in order to provide the best education for them while making the greatest use of resources.
He said superintendent Deborah Palmer is "really trying to address that issue of student success" by creating an intensive classroom where students with special needs learn together rather than be integrated 100 per cent of the time in regular classrooms. They will have access to resources and specialized educators who know how to work with their abilities.
Fafard also said the creative footwork that the board and management had to do in order to balance the 2009/10 budget reflects the magnitude of under funding by the provincial government.
"There is such a small box with hardly any latitude," Fafard said. "They're spending unrestricted funds [to balance the budget]. This can't carry on. They [the board and senior management] get the flack, but they're the meat in the sandwich."
Fafard is returning to full time teaching at Elphinstone Secondary School in the fall.
"I really like working in that school and in the community. It really does feel like that cliché that it takes a village to raise a child," he said.
He is also looking forward to participating on the SCTA social justice committee.
"All of our social services are under attack. We live in a wealthy province and have children on welfare," Fafard said. "Educating people is expensive but if we don't intervene when they're young it catches up in the long term."
