EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Council pleased with Stomp outcome Page 3
Summer season wraps up at the docks Page 7
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 PM40008236
Vol. 59 No. 36 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Canine carry-on: A couple and their dog paddle on Shuswap Lake near the boat docks in Sicamous on Saturday, Aug 30. Photos by Evan Buhler
Teachers’ strike shuts down classrooms Job action: Superintendent says it is unlikely dispute will be resolved before end of week.
By Martha Wickett Eagle Valley News
No new backpacks and notebooks, no excited talking in school corridors. The first day of school came and went Tuesday in School District #83, with the impasse between the provincial government and the teachers’ union delaying the start of the year to an unknown date in the future. “It’s a very sad day,” is how Glenn Borthistle, superintendent of schools, described Sept. 2. It’s the first time in his 25 years in education he’s known schools to be closed on the first day. The front doors of schools in the district were open and principals were present, while teachers
picketed outside. It’s not likely schools will be operating for the rest of the week, Borthistle says. “Like everybody else, we’re just waiting. Certainly we’ve been advised and can read for ourselves, there are no direct talks happening. It’s just not likely there will be school this week.” Despite warnings from some that the strike will go into October, Borthistle says his personal opinion is that won’t happen. “I just can’t see it going that long. I think the pressure will be too great.” The majority of calls the school district has received are from parents of students in grades 11 and 12, wondering what their children
can do to prepare for their studies. He said the district will be putting information on its website (www. sd83.bc.ca) that they can refer to, but individual course content will be up to the teachers. As well, strike updates will be posted to the district’s Facebook page and Twitter site (@sd83schools). Once an agreement is reached, schools might not be able to open immediately because of the need for preparation time, he says, so parents are asked to check in with local updates. Brenda O’Dell, president of the North Okanagan Shuswap Teachers Association, said teachers will keep picketing. “Our plan for now is to keep
applying pressure on government to bring resources to the table for a fair deal for teachers and more support for kids and classrooms.” Some teachers were away last week but O’Dell said she was expecting picket lines to be fully staffed this week. Because teachers are no longer receiving strike pay, there are no rules to compel them to picket. However, she said, the representatives she’s talked to are remaining strong in their commitment to get a fair deal and continue to fight to do that. O’Dell noted that the BC Teachers Federation bargaining team dropped some of its proposals and reduced others over the weekend in order to get a deal.
“Unfortunately, government didn’t indicate they were willing to make any meaningful moves in return.” She said one of the biggest sticking points is class size and composition, issues the Supreme Court ruled twice that the government had illegally removed from contract bargaining. Overall, she said, teachers are very disappointed with the outcome of the talks. “Teachers want to be back in their classrooms, supporting kids in their learning; they much prefer to be there than where we are right now.” Government officials, meanwhile, defend their position. Continued on page 2