The Lambton Kent public and Catholic school boards are strongly encouraging families to begin to explore alternate child care arrangements in the event of school closures Monday.
Talks between the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the province, and the Council of Trustees' Associations are to resume Friday under the threat of a full strike by 55,000 education workers October 7 if a deal is not reached.
On their websites Thursday afternoon both the St. Clair Catholic District School Board and the Lambton Kent District School Board said if the walkout proceeds all schools will be closed to students for the duration of the strike because they will not be able to safely operate them. Both boards encourage parents, students and staff to check their websites for updates through the weekend and including Monday morning.
The public French school board of southwestern Ontario, however, says its 56 schools including those in Sarnia, will stay open in the event of a strike Monday. The Conseil scolaire Viamonde says it has put various contingency measures in motion if custodial and maintenance staff withdraw services Monday. The board says that while CUPE also represents administrative and educational support staff, that is not the case with the French board.
In the meantime, public elementary teachers have begun central strike votes with province-wide results expected near month's end. Lambton Kent Teacher Local President Laurel Liddicoat-Newton said hundreds of teachers voted at Hiawatha Horse Park on London Line Wednesday night. "Upwards of 600 to 700, it was an amazing show of support," said Liddicoat-Newton. Teachers are concerned about the way this provincial government is moving forward in negotiations as we've seen with CUPE, and our teachers came out in droves to have their voice heard." The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) represents elementary teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, educational support personnel, professional support personnel, and adult literacy instructors. -With files from Stephanie Chaves