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Full-scale teachers’ strike underway JENNIFER SMITH/RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Both sides in B.C.’s education system are looking for middle ground before this week’s strike becomes permanently entrenched. Full-scale action resulted in pickets going up around schools in the Vernon and North OkanaganShuswap districts Tuesday. That move by the B.C. Teachers Federation came after weekend talks with the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association stalled. “We were quite optimistic Friday there would be an agreement over the weekend,” said Joe Rogers, Vernon School District superintendent. “We’re still hoping it can be settled by the end of the month so we can start in September with a collective agreement.” On Monday, hundreds of teachers marched along Vernon’s 32nd Street, trying to rally support from passing motorists. “They are solid, united in their efforts to get a fair deal for teachers and better supports for our kids,” said Heather Malcolm, Vernon Teachers Association president, of her members. “I was very hopeful that negotiations would go well over the weekend, I was very hopeful they would have reached a settlement. But the government didn’t come to the table with a mood to negotiate so now I’m still cautiously optimistic.” Classes have been brought to
View Online JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
BX Elementary teacher Nicole Hardy displays her message while Charles Bloom teachers Bill Trickey and Kevin McIntyre wave to supporters as they line 32nd Street Monday afternoon prior to full-scale strike action Tuesday. a premature halt by the strike, but Grade 10, 11 and 12 students will write provincial exams as they have been deemed an essential service. “We have designated the front door of all five secondary schools
(in the Vernon district) as the entry and exit for exams so there will be no pickets,” said Rogers. “High school busing will be available on the normal route so students can go to exams.” Administrators will oversee the
exams and mark some of them, while other exams will be marked at a central location in Vancouver. Grade 12 students will also receive final report cards so they have transcripts for college and university, but there will not be
report cards for kindergarten to Grade 11 students until the strike is over. Similar activities are occurring in the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District. “Our focus at this time is to ensure that the things that are permissible to go ahead for our students during this labour dispute go as well as possible,” said superintendent Glenn Borthistle of provincial exams and grad ceremonies. “We continue to hope that there will be a negotiated agreement to resolve this provincial dispute before the end of the school year.” At Kidston Elementary, the Grade 7 graduation ceremony proceeded Tuesday despite the strike. “The school can’t do it so the parents have taken it on,” said Jeanette Lakusta, whose granddaughter is graduating. “It’s really something how the parents have taken it on to do this.” The Grade 7 students also had a three-day trip to Eagle Bay planned but the money was being administered by the school so it couldn’t be accessed. “The disappointment in our kids eyes was horrible,” said Nicole Bush, a local parent. But the trip is still a go thanks to a generous donation from a parent. “We are making it happen,” said Bush. “With or without a teachers strike.”
River conditions plague missing person case ROGER KNOX
Extreme water hazards are hampering what has become a North Okanagan missing person investigation. Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP officers were called Saturday at 8:05 p.m. to the area of the Shuswap River bridge on Mabel Lake Road near Lumby. “A witness told our officers a pickup drove off the road and went into the Shuswap River,” said RCMP spokesperson
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“We do not know if the owner was in the vehicle.” — Gord Molendyk
Gord Molendyk. “The witness didn’t see anyone get out of the vehicle that was completely submerged.” Vernon Search and Rescue officials were ental taxes for new tires, GST and QST taxes. All prices and rebates are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Offers may be cancelled at any time without ill qualify for the lowest interest rate. Example: $25,000 purchase financed at 0% APR for 48/60/72 months, monthly payment is $520.83/ $416.66/ $347.22, cost of allowance. Total lease obligation is $16,847/$10,107/$16,847, optional buyout is $10,008/$6,530/$11,991 and total price of vehicle is $26,849/$16,649/$27,749. nd has been properly registered/plated or insured for the last 3 months (the “Criteria”). Eligible customers will receive [$500]/[$1,000]/[$2,500]/[$3,000] towards the xcluded (each an “Eligible Vehicle”). Taxes payable before Rebate amount is deducted. To qualify: (i) customer must, at the time of the Eligible Vehicle sale, provide the factory order or delivery, but not both. ± Estimated fuel consumption ratings based on Transport Canada approved test methods. †† ©2013 Sirius Canada Inc. “SIRIUS”,
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called out to assist in the attempts to find the vehicle. One of their members was lowered down to the water and did some probing and felt they located something metallic in the water. “The water conditions are far too dangerous at this time to send divers into the water in attempts to recover the vehicle and confirm if anyone is inside,” said Molendyk. Police have information that the registered owner of the vehicle is a man from the Lumby area. As of Monday morning, police
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had not been able to locate the owner, and his family had been advised of the situation. “We do not know if the owner was in the vehicle or not, or if there is more than one person in the truck,” said Molendyk. “Currently, the file remains active and the registered owner is recorded as a missing person. Our office has made efforts to speak to family members and advise them of the situation.” Police are not releasing the name of the registered owner at this time.
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