New Westminster superintendent John Gaiptman is asking that families keep their children home on Monday due to the fact that there will be no teachers on site as a result of ongoing job action.
He is also urging those who want to take summer school to register immediately, because it will make it easier for the district to arrange.
“We are still planning as if there will still be summer school,” he said.
In terms of report cards, as of Thursday, the Labour Relations Board ruled that teachers must administer final exams in Grades 10 to 12 and must compile and submit final marks for Grade 12 students by June 20.
“Right now, the only thing I can say for sure is that Grade 12 students will be getting their final marks – sometimes it’s a term mark if they are writing an exam or a final mark if there is no exam attached to it,” Gaiptman said.
As well, testing for designations for students with special needs will continue, the superintendent said.
There was a “massive turnout and incredible support” from New Westminster teachers in this week’s vote for a full-scale walkout, the local union president says.
Grant Osborne, president of the New Westminster Teachers’ Union, said they don’t share the exact numbers local by local, but noted that the response from city teachers was definitely in line with the overwhelming push – 86 per cent voted in favour – toward ramping up strike action, despite the fact that the union is no longer able to offer strike pay during a full-scale walkout.
“It’s a record-setting mandate,” Osborne said, summing up the results, which were announced Tuesday evening.
As a result of the vote, B.C. teachers plan to launch a full-scale strike starting on Tuesday, June 17. In addition, the BCTF has provided notice that Stage 2 job action will be extended to Monday, June 16, with all teachers participating in provincewide study sessions. Schools will not be picketed, but teachers will not be on site, according to a BCTF media release.
Despite the ongoing labour strife, Osborne remains optimistic that a deal can be struck between the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association and British Columbia Teachers’ Federation before the end of the month.
“We are hearing from the government that they are invested in getting a dealbefore June 30,” Osborne said. “We are definitely invested in that deal before June 30. I hope we are at the point now where we are going to be looking at some hard bargaining.”
The union has come back and revised some of its demands, including wages, though BCTF president Jim Iker wouldn’t provide the numbers at a press conference on Thursday.
“Specifics we deal with at the bargaining table,” he told reporters.
Iker also couldn’t say whether the full-scale strike will impact summer school.
The labour dispute centres around wages and class size and composition.
Osborne said striking teachers are receiving “tremendous” support while they’re walking the line with people visiting and honking in solidarity.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Peter Fassbender issued a statement Thursday on the BCTF’s full-strike notice.
“While this is disappointing news for students and parents, the strike notice was not unexpected.
“That’s why the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) applied last week to designate provincial exams and report cards for senior grads as an essential service. We’re pleased to learn that last night the Labour Relations Board agreed that provincial exams are an essential service.
“That means students in Grades 10 to 12 will be able to write their exams as scheduled and Grade 12 students will receive their final marks in a timely manner.
“Our main focus though, is to get to an agreement by June 30, 2014, and put this disruption behind us. The BCTF has said they want to avoid the strike and they are ready to bargain through the weekend. BCPSEA will be there.”
