LDSB plans for secondary schools to close to students
Secondary students in the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) will not have classes tomorrow unless an agreement can be reached between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) and the Ministry of Education before then.
The planned one-day provincial strike by members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) means that all secondary schools in the LDSB will be closed to secondary students on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 unless a central agreement can be reached. Both sides have indicated they will continue bargaining until the strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. today, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019l
“Secondary students should not report to school,” the LDSB said in a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019.
According to the LDSB, Secondary students attending co-operative education placements and those attending Dual Credit and School Within a College (SWAC) programs at St. Lawrence College should not attend work/school on Wednesday, and Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS), Adult ESL and Teacher Assisted Self-Study (TASS) programs will also not run on that day.
“The one-day strike will not affect secondary students’ attendance records,” the board said.
All secondary school-related events scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, are cancelled, and will be rescheduled if possible. Those include sports sanctioned by the Kingston Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association (KASSAA), extra-curricular activities, field trips, and events such as graduation photos.
Limestone intermediate schools (Grade 7 and 8 English and French Immersion) located within secondary schools including Calvin Park PS, Granite Ridge Education Centre, La Salle Intermediate, Module de l’Acadie, Module Vanier and North Addington Education Centre will remain open on December 4 and learning will continue.
“Grade 7 and 8 parents/guardians are reminded to report their child’s absence should they choose to keep them home when schools are open,” the board expressed.
All Limestone elementary schools will not be affected, and childcare centres located within Limestone secondary schools remain open.
The ‘French in France’ information session for Grade 10 students scheduled for 7 p.m. at the LDSB Education Centre will continue as scheduled.
Teachers and education professionals represented by OSSTF may choose to picket outside Limestone secondary schools. They are legally permitted to do so,” the LDSB explained. “We ask that those required to cross picket lines be courteous and respectful. Students will not be delayed getting to and from school via school bus or other means of transportation including walking.”
In the LDSB, OSSTF represents 632 secondary school teachers, occasional teachers, professional student services personnel, and community education instructors.
“We are hopeful that the parties at the central table are able to reach an agreement soon,” the board said.
Secondary schools within the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) will not be affected by OSSTF strike action.
“The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) represents Catholic secondary teachers, who are not part of the planned strike in secondary schools on Wednesday, December 4,” the ALCDSB said in a press release. “All ALCDSB schools are currently business as usual.”
Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as information becomes available.