Thursday could have been the last day of the school year for students in School District 57.
The B.C. Teachers' Federation has served 72-hour notice to the Labour Relations Board of their intent to begin a full-scale walkout of schools Tuesday. On Monday, the federation will be using one of its rotating strike days to hold a province-wide study day. Teachers are on the picket lines in School District 57 today as part of this week's job action. Most of the teachers will be at the district office from 5 a.m to 5 p.m.
The federation decided holding the study day was the best way to gather teachers and inform them about a rapidly changing situation, said Tina Cousins, the president of the Prince George and District Teachers' Association. But some aren't pleased with that decision.
"I must say I am very disappointed about the Monday study session," said Sarah Holland, the president of the Prince George District Parent Advisory Council. "[Yesterday] could be the last day of schools for kids. That they don't even have any real notice that it's the last day of school is very upsetting."
"Yes, it is upsetting," Cousins said. "It's upsetting to members who have connections with kids. It makes it just a very disjointed end and we really hope that this weekend the BCTF and the government can hunker down and get a deal at the bargaining table.
"This situation is way bigger than the end of the year. This is the culmination of a 12-year battle for public education."
The parent advisory council is also hoping for a negotiated settlement.
"Really and truly, there's still a weekend," Holland said. "Hopefully, they'll be able to hash out something and we can get back to doing things for the benefit of the students."
Both the government and the federation have agreed to negotiate over the weekend.
The school district has been reacting to the news in a number of ways, said school superintendent Brian Pepper.
"First of all, we've been communicating with parents," he said. "I've sent a letter home saying this may be the final day of the school year."
The letter informs parents about the Labour Relations Board's decision to make provincial exams for Grade 10, 11 and 12 students and a final report card for Grade 12s an essential service. The Grade 12s will get their report cards on or before June 20. It's unknown if the other students will get report cards.
Pepper said the school board will also have to review its contracts with businesses if the strike goes on for too long.
The uncertainty makes things challenging for parents and children alike, Holland said.
"What we've been saying here is it's probably a really good idea to round up child care because we have really no clue what's going to be happening," she said. "So be prepared for anything. We could have no school, there could be school again. We don't know."
The YCMA of Northern B.C. is host to both a child care centre and a service that refers parents to other licensed child care services in the city.
"[The referral service] have been contacting other school-aged child care providers to identify where there is available space, so when they are receiving calls from families, they know where to send them," said Lynette Mikalishen, director of child care services. She added the YCMA has been gearing up its school-age child care program, ensuring it has the staff and space available to care for children for the whole day.
The library has a day program for children going from 10 a.m to 6 p.m, while both pools will be hosting its own program from 1 to 3 p.m., although neither is a child-care service and parents are asked to remain on-site. Both programs will be available until the strike is over.
