THUNDER BAY – Breaking News – Elementary schools in Thunder Bay will be closed on Wednesday following strike notification by the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO). All Lakehead Public Schools elementary schools will be closed on Wednesday, December 12. Secondary schools will be open for regular classes.
“It is unfortunate that we have had to move to the extreme measure of closing all elementary schools on Wednesday, December 12,” stated Catherine Siemieniuk, Director of Education, Lakehead Public Schools. “The safety and security of our students were the deciding factors in this particular situation.”
As a result of this strike, all Lakehead Public Schools elementary schools, including the Grade 7 and 8 classes at Churchill Elementary located in Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute, will be closed to students on this date. Students in JK to Grade 8 who ride the bus to school will not be picked up on Wednesday, December 12. Daycares located in elementary schools will remain open on this date.
Sources are reporting to NNL that area high school students are planning a walkout in support of the teachers. Students at several schools are apparently planning this action, and sharing details via text messages and social media.
In addition to the one day strikes, ETFO has initiated a number of job sanctions. Some of the sanctions include the cancelation of participation in:
• Field trips, play days and class excursions
• Voluntary/extra-curricular activities.
More information about the ETFO imposed sanctions can be found by visiting www.etfo.ca.