Dear Parents/Guardians/Caregivers and Students,
Before the weekend begins, we wanted to provide a brief update on the ongoing Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) job action impacting TDSB schools and sites. While we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached, should CUPE job action continue into next week, TDSB schools will remain closed to in-person student learning.
Below is important information to help parents/guardians/caregivers and students prepare for the week ahead.
Student Learning
TDSB students will begin transitioning to synchronous (live, interactive) learning early next week, if the strike action continues. Additional information around student learning, including details around availability of technology, will be shared as soon as possible. In cases where students cannot participate in live, online learning, they will be supported to continue learning for the duration of the school closure. Parents/guardians/caregivers, including those of students with complex medical and/or learning needs, will hear directly from their child’s teacher early next week with specific information and details related to their class.
Child Care and Before- and After-School Programs
When schools are closed to in-person learning, child care programs for infant, toddler and preschool children will be permitted to operate within TDSB schools from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. should the third-party operator decide to. Before-and after-school programs will not be permitted to operate, based on direction from the Ministry of Education.
We recognize that this is difficult for families and the decision to close schools was not made lightly. However, the nearly 15,000 CUPE members across the TDSB are essential to the safety, security and cleanliness of our schools and buildings.
We remain hopeful that a resolution can be reached as soon as possible and will continue to share additional details as the situation evolves, including any necessary updates over the weekend.
For the latest information, please check www.tdsb.on.ca/labour and follow @tdsb on Twitter.
Sincerely,
Colleen Russell-Rawlins
Director of Education
Andrew Gold, Angela Cooke, Audley Salmon, Stacey Zucker
Associate Directors