A handful of school boards in Ontario have confirmed they would close their schools if the province’s education workers walked off the job this Friday.
On Sunday, CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions submitted its five-day strike notice.
On Friday, some 55,000 Ontario early childhood educators, educational assistants, administrative staff and custodians on the province’s English, French and Catholic school boards could go on strike, if no collective agreement is reached.
Four school boards have detailed their plans so far for Friday, should the strike happen.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCSDB) is the first in the city to share what could happen to its 195 schools if a strike occurs. In a Sunday email to parents and guardians, the board said it would close its schools “to ensure the health, welfare and safety of our students and staff.”
Closing the schools would also cancel permits for special events, night school and Saturday classes, and suspend all field trips for the duration of the strike.
Childcare services are currently being negotiated between TCSDB and its providers, but parents are ‘encouraged’ to make their own arrangements.
“We understand that this news is difficult and may be a source of stress for families and their children, particularly after the circumstances during the pandemic,” the Oct. 30 letter read.
“However, please note that the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) does not control decisions related to the strike or its remedy, as negotiations are centrally based at the provincial level.”
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) revealed that it will provide a mix of in-person and online learning to its students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Friday will begin with in-person learning, and then after the weekend, on Monday, students will take classes at home, with the schedule alternating between the two each day thereafter.
HDSB high school students will continue to attend classes at school every day, which includes schools for grades 7-12 in Aldershot, Burlington Central, and the Acton district.
Outside of the GTA, the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNC) and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board confirmed in separate emails to parents on Friday that they would not be able to keep schools open if all members of CUPE go on strike. The two school boards alone oversee more than 100 schools.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA) said its “top priority is to negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement that is fully funded and in the best interest of our students.”
OPBSA President Cathy Abraham confirmed that the board would attend the emergency mediated session on Sunday afternoon with CUPE, government negotiators and all other affected parties in downtown Toronto.
– With files from Chris Fox and Joanna Lavoie of CP24, and The Canadian Press