Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board will be impacted by the strike action planned by its employees on November 6, but only minimally.

The NFSB had previously announced a pedagogical day for the youth sector on November 6, meaning all elementary and secondary schools in its network will already be closed to students when staff walk out as of midnight on Monday. Daycare activities at the elementary level will be affected, however, and parents relying on this service will need to find an alternative solution during the day.

NFSB director general Mike Helm says the expectation is that school staff will report to work at 10:30 a.m. on November 6. Morning classes at adult and vocational centres will not take place, but courses will resume in the afternoon. Evening courses will not be impacted by the strike action.

“In the past we have had to make decisions, so for us, not having to worry as much for this first strike day is very fortunate,” says Helm. However, he is anticipating further strike action to come as negotiations continue between the government and the Front commun, which includes the Chateauguay Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) and SEPB 576 which represents support staff at the NFSB.

The “ped day” on November 6 was scheduled to allow teachers to prepare first-term reports for their students. Helm says the focus for the remainder of the day at the elementary and secondary level will be the inputting of student results. The strike is not expected to have an impact on the delivery of report cards.

As of press time, the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands had not announced any contingency plans for the morning of November 6.