What GTA school boards are planning for education workers strike

Several GTA school boards have outlined their contingency plans with thousands of Ontario education workers ready to strike on Friday.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents about 55,000 education staff including educational assistants, custodians and administrative staff.

The province passed back-to-work legislation late Thursday, forcing a contract on the workers and making it illegal for them to strike.

CUPE has declared their intention to stage a walkout on Friday despite the province’s move.

What school boards are planning?

Toronto

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has confirmed they will not hold in-person classes on Friday.

“As a result of this announcement, the board will have no option but to close all schools for in-person learning for all students on Friday, November 4, 2022,” the TDSB noted in a news release.

“Student supervision and safety are our top priorities, and without the important services of these school-based employees, we cannot guarantee that our learning environments will remain safe and clean for all students.”

TDSB officials further acknowledged that schools would be closed indefinitely should the strike continue past Friday.

The TDSB says that while there will be no in-person classes, third-party childcare operators in TDSB schools will remain open between 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Due to the strike action, the TDSB says all in-person continuing education classes are also cancelled.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) says they will be forced to cancel all in-person classes on Friday in the event of a “full withdrawal of services.”

“Teachers will communicate lessons and expectations via their Google Classroom portals or by providing learning materials for students to take home with them on Thursday,” the board says.

The TCDSB says child-care operators located within schools will stay open but hours will be adjusted to 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Peel

The Peel District School Board (PDSB) announced that all students would participate in online learning on Friday and that school buildings would be closed.

In a letter to parents and guardians, PDSB officials said teachers and support staff would be remotely available to support students with online learning. Students are asked to log onto their Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) to retrieve assignments and access support from their teacher.

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) has confirmed all schools would be closed to in-person learning and all student transportation would be cancelled in the event of a strike.

The board also says childcare centres and before and after school programs will be closed.

“We are advising families to explore options for child care on Friday, Nov. 4 should a negotiated settlement not be achieved.”

York

The York Region District School Board says all its schools will be closed to students on Friday. Teachers will communicate with their class regarding learning for the anticipated closure on Nov. 4. Asynchronous learning will occur for students who regularly attend in person classes while virtual schools will operate as scheduled.

“Families are strongly encouraged to make alternate arrangements for your children prior to the protest. Please do not send any students to school on Nov. 4,” the board said in a statement.

The board says childcare programs operating at schools are anticipated to operate normally but will close by 4:30 p.m. Before and after school care programs will be closed.

Officials with the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) say in the event of a strike all schools will be closed on Friday and school buses won’t be running. As well, before and after care programs will be cancelled. Full-day child care centers will be able to remain open at the discretion of the operator.

“Any job action by CUPE members will significantly impact the operations of our schools and our ability to keep schools safely open,” the YCDSB said in a letter to parents.

“While this situation remains fluid, we recommend that families start making alternative childcare arrangements.”

Halton

Halton District School Board (HDSB) officials say they will be going to a mix of in-person and online learning for its elementary school students, while secondary school students will continue in-person learning if there is a labour disruption.

“The HDSB is committed to doing everything we can to keep our schools open,” the school board said in a statement on its website Sunday. “To keep our schools open, HDSB elementary schools (Kindergarten-Grade 8) will alternate between in-person and remote learning beginning Friday, Nov. 4. HDSB elementary schools will be open for in-person learning on Friday, Nov. 4.”

“HDSB secondary schools (Grade 9-12) will continue to be open for in-person learning for all students each day. This includes Grade 7-12 schools (Aldershot, Burlington Central and Acton District).”

The Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) had previously said they would close schools to students if CUPE proceeds with a full withdrawal of services on Friday.

“We will move to remote asynchronous instruction on this day,” the board says. “Schools will be reaching out to families directly to assess technology/device needs.”

Durham

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) have advised they will not be able to keep schools open in the event of an education workers strike.

“If there is a withdrawal of services by CUPE, all DDSB schools will be closed for in-person learning starting on Friday to protect the health and safety of students and staff,” the board said in a notice to parents, adding there will be no live virtual classroom instruction on Friday.

“Should the job action extend beyond Friday, more information will be shared with families.”

The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) announced late on Monday that schools would be closed to all students on Friday, noting that parents and guardians should not send children to school if there is a full withdrawal of services.

With files from John Marchesan, Lucas Casaletto and Patricia D’Cunha