(October 14, 2022, St. John’s) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Education and MHA for Conception Bay South, says the Minister may stand behind the Smartfind system, but the substitute teachers of Newfoundland and Labrador are crying out for changes to the system.

The Smartfind system is used by the NLESD for leave management and automated substitute call-in system. But substitute teachers say it’s causing chaos in the classrooms – something the Minister of Education does not agree with.

“The Minister said Wednesday in the Legislature: ‘it is working very well.’ However, our caucus has been flooded with calls and emails from substitutes with a litany of complaints about SmartFind,” said Petten.

Petten noted SmartFind ignores seniority and experience of teachers, the makeup of the classroom including students with exceptionalities and best practice and learning continuity in the classroom.

“The Minister believes having five different substitutes in a classroom in a week is a good idea. I do not share his view of carousel instruction for our children,” said Petten.

Petten stated teachers are getting notifications for work, which are rescinded without explanation, some are not getting any calls at all while part time teachers are being excluded from supplementary work in a given school.

“Minister Haggie feels calling in a teacher for one hour of instruction when there is a teacher in the building working half time is acceptable,” said Petten.

“He is clearly out of touch, but sadly, we have seen this before.”

-30-

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca