District administration juggling to keep up with dispute

By MICHELE YOUNG

Kamloops-Thompson school district administrators are sorting through the logistics of dealing with 14,000 students out of class due to a teachers’ labour dispute that shortened the school year.

“We’re getting some calls, mainly around report cards. We just don’t have that information yet,” Supt. Terry Sullivan said Friday.

The Labour Relations Board has ruled that Grade 12 marks have to be provided, and is in the process of determining what is required for students in Grades 10 and 11.

Provincial exams are being administered as of Wednesday, June 18, and information on the scheduling is on the district’s website, Sullivan said.

“We have 65 exams to be written. Some will be big sittings. We have a schedule prepared. We have to go over it with the union,” he said.

“The marking of the exams is not clear yet. We have to get that figured out over the next couple of days.”

Administrators will take on as many exam supervision spots as they can, and teachers will have to fill in the gaps, he said.

“There has to be at least one entrance to the school that can’t be picketed where students can come and go.”

The district also has 104 special-needs students writing provincial exams, some of whom will need assistance or scribes.

“We have to work that out. The LRB says that has to be provided. We have to work that out with CUPE,” he said.

Buses for rural students will also have to be provided.

Sullivan said he’s told parents to check the district website for up-to-date information. Those without internet can call the district office or the schools, or monitor local media.

Last week, a total of 70 students walked out in protest of the teachers’ dispute. Sullivan said 60 were from secondary schools, and 10 were from three elementary schools.

None faced disciplinary action, but their parents were contacted and asked to direct their kids back to class or pick up their children and take them home.

Sullivan disagreed with the union’s view that 72 hours’ notice was given about the strike. He was informed Wednesday at 10:30 p.m., but with the rotating walkout already slated for Friday and a study session scheduled for Monday, it meant Thursday was the last day of classes.

“We had to put a plan together Wednesday night and early Thursday morning and get it out to schools. There were teachers and parents who weren’t aware that could be the last day,” he said.

“It caused some emotional upset in a number of buildings, especially among younger children and among some teachers for sure.”

Parents and students who didn’t get to collect all their items from school can do so on Monday without fear of facing a picket line, he said. Support staff will also be reporting Monday.

Sullivan said if no agreement is reached this weekend and the strike extends into summer, it will cause some problem to deal with grades and unmarked assignments. He, too, was hoping for a settlement.

“There’s going to have to be movement and there’s going to have to be significant movement to get to that point next week.”