Algoma District School Board Director Of Education Lucia Reece answers questions on the latest regarding the labour situation involving elementary teachers and educational support workers after Tuesday’s board meeting.

It was announced on Tuesday that the province’s 55 thousand educational support workers were escalating their job action. The workers have been without a contract for more than a year. This means there will be unswept floors, no clean blackboards or whiteboards and no repairs to light fixtures. The latter would be done if it is considered a health and safety hazard. Algoma District School Board Director of Education Lucia Reece says there will be a contingency plan — if there is a need for one…

There was some encouraging news early Tuesday evening when the province’s elementary teachers union decided to return to the bargaining table. The response came after Education Minister Liz Sandals invited the union back. Reece was satisfied with the news, saying it shows a commitment by both sides to return and she hopes a deal can be reached. When asked about the threat of any rotating strikes at the public board, Reece answered that there has no advance word of any such action…

Reece adds there have been challenges three weeks into the school year. She insists communication with board administrators is the key to making sure both sides are maintaining operations and school safety as best they can until new contracts are reached. No date or time was set as of Tuesday night regarding exactly when Ontario’s elementary teachers will return to the bargaining table. Reece says the public board has been talking with union representatives for the last several days…