B.C. teachers' strike: No summer school for many if picketing continues
Vancouver, Surrey, Langley and West Vancouver school districts won't offer summer courses during strike
In a letter to parents, The Vancouver School Board says if the B.C. teachers' strike is not settled before July 3rd, the district will not be offering summer school programs and courses.
School Districts in Surrey, Langley and West Vancouver have made similar decisions.
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If there is a settlement, the four school districts say summer school would begin on Monday, July 7 including the Secondary Completion Program courses originally scheduled for July 2.
The school boards say a final decision on whether or not summer school is going ahead will be made Thursday, July 3.
Even if summer school courses don't proceed, the VSB says the Secondary Remedial Program could still go ahead if it winds up being declared an essential service.
The B.C. Public School Employer's Association has made an application to that effect to the Labour Relations Board.
VSB Superintendent Steve Cardwell says the decision not to proceed with summer schools during the teachers' strike has been made because of the strike's impact on the district's ability to offer the courses.
Cardwell says it is anticipated unionized staff will not cross the picket lines and the district will be unable to supervise students or offer instruction.
"While the sites will remain open...we encourage parents to not send their children to summer school courses and programs and seek alternate childcare arrangements as needed," said Cardwell.
These instructions only apply to the Vancouver School District.
The B.C. Public School Employers' Association has applied to the Labour Relations Board to have remedial summer school and year-round schooling declared essential services and exempt from strike action.
The government has said it would end its partial lockout so that summer school could proceed.
However, on Wednesday, B.C. Teachers' Federation president Jim Iker said the union is prepared to picket summer schools if they do not reach a contract deal by June 30.