PD Fund FAQs

If you are an active member of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation District 25 Occasional Teachers' Bargaining Unit (OSSTF D25 OTBU), you may apply. 

An easier answer: If you have worked within the past 90 days in an OCDSB secondary school as a daily OT or in an LTO, then you are eligible to apply.

Applications are due 1 month from the completion of your PD opportunity. 

PD opportunities must be completed by June 30. If the opportunity is completed after June 30th, you must apply for the next fiscal year's funding (which may have updated different terms and conditions).

To provide a more equitable distribution of funds so grants are more likely to be available for opportunities that may only occur later in the school year, we have decided to split the funds into two semesters. 

Semester 1 of the secondary school year (includes the summer days starting on July 1st.) will have "semester 1 funds" to be used until the end of the semester. 

If this funding runs out, no more funding will be dispersed for PD opportunities that are completed in the 1st semester. If there is leftover unclaimed funding, it will be carried into semester 2's funding.

Semester 2 of the secondary school year (until June 30) will have "semester 2 funds" to be used and will not be dispersed until the beginning of semester 2. Any unused funding from semester 1 will be added to this amount. Unused funding from semester 2 will not be carried into the next fiscal year. 

These funds may only be used for materials that are required by the PD opportunity. The PD funds are intended to be used mainly towards learning, which is often viewed as something intangible. Any material that is "highly recommended" should be funded out-of-pocket.

Non-exhaustive list of common items (physical or digital) that will not be funded: First-aid training book, related reading material (physical or e-book), any subscriptions to access learning materials, memberships, etc. 

If you have not received the maximum $300 for the fiscal year (July 1- June 30), you may apply again with a different PD opportunity. 

Example: I received $145 for an application I made for a Mathematics conference in September. I can apply again for a different opportunity, such as an AQ in March, to receive up to $155. 

The documentation of completion must include your name, the name of the organization, and the date of completion. If you attended a conference, please provide the credentials you were provided (i.e., nametag or other identification). 

Registration receipt must include proper identification (name/email address/student ID/etc.), itemized cost, method of payment, and date of payment.

When applicable: Travel/Accommodation receipt(s) must have dates and locations.

1. The maximum amount a member may receive in a fiscal year from this fund is $300. 

2. Funds received may not exceed the out-of-pocket expenses after the calculation of all other funding you have received. 

Example: You attend a conference where the total cost, including registration, travel, and accommodation, is $250. If you request $300, you will only be approved for up to $250. 

The current VP-Ed Services executive is in a partial release position, which means that it may take some time to view the application and send it to the district office for the next step in processing. If you have applied during the summer or in the month of September, it may take longer, as the beginning of the school year is an especially busy time for us. If you have not received your funds or have not been updated on the progress of your application after around ~6 weeks into the school year, send an email to your current Vice-President: Educational Services officer.