Rotating teacher strikes to continue; community rallies
Rotating teacher strikes will continue next week, with instruction brought to a halt in every school district for another full day (in SD 20, that will be June 2, and June 5 for SD 8. See end of story for all district schedules). “On Monday, June 2, schools and other SD20 locations will be picketed by members of the BCTF,” ...
Op/Ed: Thoughts from a teacher's kid
Tap tap tappity tap tap. One of the strongest memories I have from my childhood is my dad tapping away at the computer. It’s not my earliest memory, but it happened nightly, so it was burned into my head. It was a comforting sound. My room was across the hall from his office and he would be working steadily into the night, ...
SD 20 track meet cancelled; parent-based alternate event on tap
The School District 20 annual elementary track and field meet has become the latest casualty of ongoing strife between the province and its teachers, as day two of rotating job action in the district unfolds. The following letter was issued to local parents yesterday by SD 20 Superintendent Greg Luterbach: Dear Parents, With...
BCTF rotating strikes hit area schools Tuesday & Wednesday
Day two of the BC Teachers’ Federation rotating strike schedule Tuesday sees picket signs outside public elementary and high schools in Arrow Lakes (Nakusp/New Denver) and Kootenay-Columbia (Trail/Castlegar/Rossland/Fruitvale) School Districts 10 and 20, respectively. Teachers in Kootenay Lake School District 8 (Nelson/Creston)...
Kootenay Studio Arts Adds More Depth to Programming
Program additions to Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA) at Selkirk College will open new pathways to students and new doors to working artists in the region. After a collaborative review of the Nelson art school that included input from current students, instructors, artists, community members and Selkirk College administration, KSA...
Clear as mud and no end coming soon
Strike dates. Changes to strike dates for Kootenay Lake. Lockout believed to have an affect final exam marking. Employers saying the lockout won't affect marking final exams for Grade 10 and 11 or grad ceremonies. Looks like everything is clear as mud in the labour dispute between the B.C. Teachers' Federation and the B.C. ...
OP/ED: In defense of our teachers
I originally started to write this as a straight news story, then realized my personal opinions on the matter are too strong to allow me to be certain of balanced reporting, so instead I'm going for an opinion/editorial piece. The issue at hand is current BCTF job action, and the way teachers are getting blamed for greed and...
Letter: SD8 (Kootenay Lake) Superintendent Updates Community on Strike action
Re: Change of Date for Rotating Strike Action Further to my letter of May 20th, I am writing today to advise you that the British Columbia Teachers' Federation has changed the date on which SD8 (Kootenay Lake) Teachers will be withdrawing fully from their services. The day for the full withdrawal of service in SD8 has been ...
LETTER: Teachers using kids to mask greed
Becoming a Teacher is a many things, but I would hazard to say more a “Lifestyle choice” where you work desirable hours with weekends, long weekends, summers, and holidays all off. Any teacher knows what also comes with their chosen occupation, which is some work done at home, and also putting in time with the kids after...
LETTER: SD 20 says no school May 27 due to rotating job action
Dear Parents and guardians: I regret to inform you that the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), the union representing teachers, has informed the school district that they will be engaged in rotating strikes and will be withdrawing teaching services in all SD20 sites on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. As of this time, this...