Summer school scrapped by superintendent

KAMLOOPS – There will be no summer school for students in the Kamloops school district even though a Labour Relations Board ruling says some of those classes are an essential service.

Superintendent of schools Terry Sullivan has read the board’s ruling and apparently found it impossible to follow.

The labour board ruled on Friday striking educators must teach summer classes for high school students who failed a course during the year.

Sullivan told parents in a recorded phone message “many evaluations for students are incomplete so it is not possible for us to know the number of students who are eligible to attend this restricted summer school program.”

The superintendent of schools believes the teachers’ union plans to picket summer school locations. He is concerned CUPE support staff won’t cross the picket lines to keep the buildings clean and safe.

However, the president of CUPE local 3500 John Hall says his members will be showing up at work as scheduled on Monday because he’s been told the teachers won’t be on the picket line, according to CFJC TV.

The summer school programs cancelled include the math camps, the Rec and Reading program along with all the other courses scheduled for July and August.

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