What parents need to know about the 1-day strike on Wednesday

Most public high school students are expected to be out of class on Wednesday for the second time since the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and the provincial government failed to reach an agreement.

Teachers and education workers represented by OSSTF will stage a one-day, province-wide walkout because contract talks have stalled.

Both sides remain deadlocked on several issues, including larger class sizes and new mandatory online learning classes.

Some school boards have already announced plans to close in the event of a strike. Here’s a quick guide to help you plan.

Which school boards will be affected?

All Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) members will be striking in these nine school boards:

• Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board.
• Grand Erie District School Board.
• Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
• Near North District School Board.
• Rainy River District School Board.
• Simcoe County District School Board.
• Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
• Toronto District School Board.
• Trillium Lakelands District School Board.

High schools and some elementary schools in these school districts will be closed. They will re-open on Dec. 12.

The Peel District School Board announced last week that all Peel Region high schools will remain open to students despite the strike.

OSSTF members in Peel will continue their current job action, including information pickets, but will not engage in a full withdrawal of service on Wednesday.

How can I verify if my child’s school is open or closed?

School boards have been communicating directly to parents, and have also been posting updates on their social media pages.

You should double-check, but the answer is likely yes.

What if I have a permit to use the facilities at a local high school school?

Check with the local board if you want to be sure, but you’re probably OK.

At the Toronto District School Board, for example, CUPE staff — who already negotiated a deal with the government — are still on the job, allowing permits to go ahead.

Where can I send my child/children for the day on Wednesday?

A library or a museum is always a good choice. Toronto Public Library branches will be open throughout the day Wednesday with closing times ranging from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feel free to check your nearest branch for exact opening hours.

Museums will also be open on Wednesday with closing times ranging from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Once again, please double check opening hours.

CBC