It’s the first day of school — NOT!

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — Instead of yellow buses and kids with packed lunches heading off to school, the streets of Kamloops and other cities in the province will see striking teachers and protesting parents today (Tuesday).

The contract dispute between B.C.’s teachers and the government that has stretched through the summer now extends into what should have been the start of the school year.

Kamloops parents will join a province wide protest, though there’s some uncertainty whether a 10 a.m. rally will be limited to MLA Todd Stone’s Victoria Street office or will be extended to MLA Terry Lake’s office on Tranquille Road.

A Facebook page called Kamloops Parents Actively Protesting September 2 seems divided on whether to have a rally at both offices or just one for fear of splitting its effectiveness, and there’s also some question as to how long it will last.

Parents involved in the event are encouraging each other to make protest signs and bring their children.

Petitions and letters to politicians are being generated in various cities. One letter, to Premier Christy Clark, blames the government for its “demonstrated failure to negotiate in good faith.”

There’s no settlement in sight between the B.C. Teachers Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers Association, which bargains for the government.

Kamloops-Thompson School District superintendent Karl deBruijn issued a voicemail message to parents Monday night confirming that schools will be behind pickets lines and there will be no classes Tuesday.

“At this time the provincial parties remain far apart, which adds to the continuing uncertainty about when an agreement will be reached,” he said.