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Kamloops News

District track meet cancelled amid strike action

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KAMLOOPS — When it was announced teachers were moving on to strike action the Kamloops-Thompson School District moved the district track meet up a day so it could still go ahead. Sunday evening it was announced the track meet is now cancelled.

The B.C. Teachers’ Federation announced teachers would take level one job action back in April. They stopped supervision outside of educational hours and all extra communication with administration ceased as well. Last week the union announced it would begin rotating strike action, with SD73 teachers striking on Wednesday, May 28.

The district moved the elementary track and field meet and 1,500 m championships, which were planned for Wednesday, to Monday and Tuesday so students could still compete in the district meet. On Sunday Superintendent Terry Sullivan said they were told teachers will not be supervising the recess or noon hours during the track events.

“Given the additional duties school and district administration have had to assume since this job action began, we will not be able to provide the supervision levels necessary at these events to ensure the safe supervision of the children involved,” he said in a call to parents. “Regretfully, we must cancel both (events.)”

Sullivan also noted while schools will remain open on Wednesday because they are behind picket lines proper supervision will not be available and parents are advised to keep students at home.

“It is clear as we move into June and this dispute continues to escalate that we will not be able to assume all the services withdrawn by teachers,” he said. “We expect as this situation becomes more fluid, it will be necessary to reset our priorities and adjust to changing circumstances.”

The graduation ceremonies planned for this week, Four Directions, Twin Rivers Education Centre and Aboriginal, as well as the district awards evening will go ahead as planned.

The school district will continue to provide updates on the job action on the district website and through school newsletters.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

-This story was updated at 2:36 p.m., May 26 with information about the graduation and awards ceremonies.

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