All SD73 summer schools cancelled

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — All summer school programs in the Kamloops-Thompson School District will be cancelled even though the Labour Relations Board ruled that some of them are an essential service.

Schools superintendent Terry Sullivan issued a message to parents Saturday saying that, since many evaluations for students are incomplete, it’s impossible to know how many students are eligible for the classes  covered by the LRB’s decision.

The LRB issued a decision late Friday, as reported in The Armchair Mayor News, that summer programs for students who have failed courses and need the course to go on to the next level are an essential service. Programs such as the district’s Rec and Reading program and summer math camp aren’t protected.

Sullivan said there are many challenges with the order, including the fact the district’s summer programs are provided at 14 different locations. He said that since the B.C. Teachers Federation intends to picket summer school sites “it will not be possible for support staff to cross picket lines to supply education support for special needs students, to supply clerical support and to supply custodial support to keep the buildings clean and safe throughout the duration of our summer school programs.”

Administrators would be first in line to teach summer school, with teachers filling the gap. “That would mean administrators could be left on their own in buildings to teach summer school, maintain the safety, cleanliness and security of the buildings while providing the necessary clerical support,” Sullivan said in his message.

“I believe that this will produce an untenable situation for those students and staff involved.

Therefore, it is with regret that we must cancel all of our summer school programs. That includes math camps, Rec and Reading as well as the regular summer school course offerings.”