KENORA / THUNDER BAY – As the labour dispute between Ontario teachers and the Ontario government continue, the school boards are working to navigate the situation.
In Thunder Bay, the Lakehead Public School Board reports, “Lakehead Public Schools elementary and secondary teachers are currently participating in a province-wide legal job action. The provincial job action will have an impact on the following:
Elementary Term One Report Cards
Regular assessment practices will continue. However due to job sanctions this term, elementary teachers are writing and providing marks, but they are not inputting them electronically. Due to these circumstances, we are unable to provide parents/guardians with Term One Report Cards for elementary students. Parents/guardians can contact their child’s teachers to learn about their child’s progress.
Kindergarten Communication of Learning
Due to the job action, families will not receive the Kindergarten Communication of Learning this term. Parents/guardians can contact their child’s Kindergarten teacher and/or designated early childhood educator to discuss their child’s progress.
Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
IEPs will be updated by teachers but will not be provided to families at this time. Parents/guardians can contact their child’s teachers to learn about their child’s progress.
Parent/Teacher Interview Night
Parent/ Teacher Interview Night will not take place but parents/guardians can contact their child’s teacher to learn about their child’s progress.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this information, please contact the principal of your school.
Minister Greg Rickford, the Kenora-Rainy River MPP says, “While parents in Kenora-Rainy River are frustrated by teacher union escalation every few years, it is unacceptable that union leaders would ramp up strike action and make families across the province scramble for childcare.
“We recognize the impact of union escalation on families is real, and unions expect hard-working families to bear the costs of their cyclical labour action. That’s why our government launched its Support for Parents initiative that puts money directly into the pockets of parents.
“The immense uptake of our Support for Parents initiative speaks volumes to the level of uncertainty union-led strike action causes. Our government will continue to focus on reaching voluntary agreements with the teachers’ unions, so Ontario students stay in class where they belong.”
More information on the Support for Parents initiative can be found at http://ontario.ca/supportforparents or by calling 1-888-444-3770.
As of January 21, 2020, the government had received 178,427 applications.
