Board, parents anxious for back to school normalcy
School District 53 is waiting like everyone else to see if classrooms will open for students on September 2.
But board chair Marieze Tarr isn’t holding her breath.
“I would like to be optimistic . . . but I’m not too confident that a settlement will be reached by next Tuesday,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Bev Young couldn’t offer any of her own optimism.
“The two sides remain too far apart for mediation to be effective. I was hoping this week would yield some progress, but so far that has not happened and September 2 is not looking hopeful for classes to begin on time.”
The BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the government’s bargaining agent have yet to meet face to face since the beginning of summer.
Mediator Vince Ready has agreed to monitor the situation to determine if the two sides are close enough to re-start negotiations.
Teachers are standing firm on smaller class sizes and more resources for special needs students.
The latest from the BCTF is a press release from president Jim Iker, who claimed that Education Minister Peter Fassbender’s recent media tour is a clear contravention of a media blackout that the BCTF and the government agreed to when Ready first engaged in the bargaining process.
“It is unhelpful that the minister is again playing politics in the media instead of allowing bargaining to resume behind closed doors.”
Iker called for immediate mediation with the assistance of Ready.
“More than anything, teachers want to be back in schools on September 2 with smaller classes, and more support for all students so we can give BC children the education they deserve.”
Sylvia Slater, president of the South Okanagan Similkameen Teachers’ Union, could not be reached for comment.
Tarr said it’s a waiting game, and all they can do is put pressure on both sides to continue negotiating.
“I’m hopeful that some miracle is going to happen.”
Tarr acknowledged that the government feels strongly about not putting the province in a deficit position by agreeing to what teachers want. But she said the board also feels strongly that the money the government is saving during the strike should benefit students and go back into education.
In the meantime, the ministry has promised to pay parents a $40-a-day child care subsidy if and when classes are disrupted by the strike in September.
Tarr agreed this will help some parents, who will be grateful for the support.
But many parents are fearful and anxious about the whole situation, she pointed out.
She noted that parents have been looking forward to their children starting kindergarten.
“Kids will be missing school. How will they make up the time they will lose (if the strike continues this fall)?”
Tarr said she is especially concerned for the district’s “vulnerable” students who need extra help.
She said a late start back to school will impact many students. She pointed out that students have not had any literacy for nearly three months, adding that summer reading programs were cancelled because of the strike.
Tarr said if teachers continue striking into September, that will put pressure on many parents who have to find alternate daycare services.
The chairperson said some parents are considering putting their children into private school or educational facilities out of province.
On Monday, the board issued a statement to parents confirming that the possibility of schools reopening after the Labour Day weekend is uncertain.
A decision on schools opening will likely not be made until Friday, Aug. 29, according to the board.
Young encourages all parents to consult the board’s website at www.sd53.bc.ca for further updates.
“This is a frustrating, disappointing and worrisome time for everyone,” Young said. “I am most concerned about the effect that this continued labour dispute has on our students and hope that the impasse between the parties is resolved quickly.”
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
