SURREY/DELTA — Confirming the inevitible at this point in the talks between the BCTF and the province, both Surrey and Delta school districts have stated that classrooms will not be open Tuesday.
In a letter posted on the Surrey school district's website, superintendent Jordan Tinney says while they had hoped that a deal could have been reached before Tuesday with mediator Vince Ready at the table, his declaration of an impasse dashed all hopes of the school year starting on time.
"We wished we were posting different news today and we acknowledge the incredible pressure the impasse puts on parents and our community. The routines of school are deeply rooted in people’s work lives and daily schedules and such, a disruption is significant to all concerned," writes Tinney.
"Schools are far more than places of learning to our children and community. The places we call school are central to the health and well-being of our society. We look forward to when we can post positive news and whenever there is any suggestion of an impending settlement or a return to school we will certainly update parents immediately. At this point, we suggest parents make alternative arrangements for the coming week and look to the very real possibility that a resolution may take much longer."
As before, parents in Surrey and White Rock are advised to keep an eye on the news for the latest on the teacher strike as well as the district website for what that means to Surrey and White Rock students.
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In Delta, district superintendent Dianne Turner also penned a letter to to parents confirming the schools will be behind picket lines Tuesday and that there will be no classes until the dispute is over. As such, Turner reminded parents not to send their children to school as a means for childcare.
"With schools behind picket lines, there will be no instruction and no support staff/CUPE members on site. While school buildings will be open, only Principals and Vice-Principals will be in the buildings. Since staff will not be available to provide adequate supervision or instruction, we ask parents to NOT send their children to school and to make alternative childcare arrangements as needed," she writes.
"Strong Start Centres will also be closed and user groups will not be able to operate because we will not have staff in place to facilitate building use. We understand that pickets are not intended to impact daycares, so daycares located within Delta School District buildings may remain open; however, please directly contact your daycare operator to confirm whether or not they are open."
Like Surrey, Delta parents are urged to keep checking the Delta school district website for the latest on Delta school news.
Day camps for school-aged children are also being held by the cities of Surrey, White Rock and Delta in response to the strike.