Renfrew, Kingston schools get ready for teacher strike

Public schools in Renfrew County and Kingston are preparingfor disruptions and closures asteachers walk off the job Wednesday.

All seven high schools at the Renfrew County District School Board wouldclosefor the day and most kindergarten classes would be cancelled.

The rest of its elementary and intermediate classes would be on.

For the Limestone District School Board, which covers Kingston, Napanee and areas to the north, secondary school classes wouldnot be happening, but elementary schools wouldbe open and intermediate classes in high school buildings wouldgo ahead.

Four French schools in Kingston and twoin Pembroke would also close if there's a strike.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation [OSSTF] announced late last week members will strikeat nine school boards in Ontario and several French schools Wednesdayif a deal can't be reached with the province in time.

Exams coming

Susan Humphries, chair of the board of trustees for the Renfrew County board, is urging high school students to spend an off day studying rather than treating it like a day off.

"Hopefully, coming off a two week holiday, they realize that exams are approaching [at the end of the month]," she said.

• Ontario public high school teachers announce another 1-day strike

The kindergarten classes in the RenfrewCounty area wouldalso be cancelledbecause early-childhood educators at the school board are members of OSSTF.

"We need those early childhood educatorsto balance out the numbers of adults versus students," said Humphries.

Parents with kids in kindergarten have to find other child-care arrangements, she said.OnlyWhitney Public School wouldcontinue to hold kindergarten class.

Night school programs, co-op placements and after-school extracurricular activities are also cancelled at these Englishschools.

Deal expired in August

OSSTF presidentHarvey Bischof said last week the union continues to plan strike actionto protest growing class sizes, mandatory e-learning and as well as a lack of supportfor vulnerable students.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce called the threat of a strike Wednesday "unfair to students and their families."

According to Lecce, the sticking point between the union and province is a wage increase.

OSSTF's last contract with the provinceexpired Aug. 31.

Wednesday's job action would be the fourth walkout in just over a month.