KELOWNA — School District 23 in the central Okanagan is warning parents to prepare for the worst.
It released a statement Tuesday advising parents to start thinking about “alternate arrangements” in case the dispute between BC teachers and the provincial government isn’t settled before the Labour Day weekend.
Superintendent Hugh Gloster says because of the picket lines, principals and vice-principals may be the only staff able to handle requests from parents.
He says new students are usually dealt with by this time of year. Gloster is reminding parents new students can register on-line.
Gloster says students on wait-lists to get into specific schools will have to be patient until the labour dispute is over.
He’s also reminding parents who are having to find day care that the provincial government is offering a $40 per day stipend for students under the age of 13.
“If there is a settlement over the weekend, schools will open on Tuesday, September 2nd following the normal school-opening procedures that have been communicated by individual schools. If there is no settlement, it is anticipated that schools will remain behind picket lines with only school administrators on-site. In this scenario, parents would be asked to make alternate arrangements for their children, as it would be impossible to offer an educational program,” says Gloster.
Meantime, teachers in Vernon are rallying the troops.
The Vernon Teacher’s Association says it’s organizing a picket line at the school board offices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
“We will concentrate our efforts at the school board office this week and should a deal not be reached, we will be on regular picket duty at our schools starting September 2nd, says Heather Malcolm, president of the Vernon Teacher’s Association.
BC teachers have been on strike since June.
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