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Sd73
More students means fewer daycare spots
KAMLOOPS - Enrolment is going up at the elementary age and that means more jobs for teachers and better use of district space. It also means daycares within some schools must find a new place to call home. Space at two schools will be reclaimed before the next school year and the daycares at each...
Government responds to BCTF accusations with proposal details
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — The teacher’s union had its turn this morning to voice displeasure with the government but this afternoon the government put exact details of proposals by both parties up for inspection. B.C. Teacher’s Federation President Jim Iker said this morning the union tabled a ‘fair, reasonable and balanced’ proposal and said it was ignored for...
No deal reached over weekend, teacher strike imminent
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Though the teachers union presented a revised list of demands to the provincial bargaining group over the weekend, a deal was not reached and the union is prepared to wage a full scale strike starting tomorrow. However, there is still hope on both sides that a deal can be reached before the end...
This could be last day of school in Kamloops
FULL STRIKE LAUNCHED KAMLOOPS — The teachers’ union appears headed to a full strike beginning Tuesday and with a ‘study session’ planned for Monday and a rotating strike day Friday, that means today is potentially the last day of school for many students in Kamloops. An email was sent to teachers Thursday night and quickly...
District bullying policy to get slight update
KAMLOOPS - Just over a year ago the teachers’ association began a push for an anti-homophobic harassment specific policy and this month the district will instead update the current bullying policy. The Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association brought forward a request for a discrete anti-homophobic harassment policy last spring, with one teacher saying he felt administration had...
Teachers set for third week of rotating strikes
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Teachers in B.C. are preparing for a third week of rotating strikes and they will also decide early next week whether they launch a full strike before the end of the school year. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation announced Thursday afternoon rotating strikes will take place Tuesday through Friday next week. In school districts...
IN PHOTOS: Teacher rally draws hundreds
KAMLOOPS - By the time noon hour was over more than 300 people had gathered at the foot of the Overlanders Bridge to show support for teachers and hundreds more showed support by honking and waving as they drove by. Kamloops Thompson Teacher's Association President Jason Karpuk says while not surprised, he was happy with...
Less than 1% of Kamloops secondary students walkout
KAMLOOPS - Only about 50 secondary students were absent from Kamloops schools today during a province-wide student walkout—a pretty average number on any given day in the school district—but today most were protesting. Superintendent Terry Sullivan says between 47-50 secondary students, across three schools, and seven or eight elementary age students were absent today and...
Teachers have choice to attend grad, field trips
KAMLOOPS — Superintendent Terry Sullivan has been dealing with calls from irate parents as teachers announce cancelled school events and he wants to make it very clear, the district has not prohibited their participation, the choice to take part is up to each teacher. “We’re not cancelling anything,” Sullivan says. “If teachers are supervising the...
School trips cancelled because of strike
KAMLOOPS - Grade 5-7 students around the district have been looking forward to year end camping trips but this year many of them have been cancelled because of the teacher strike. Several schools have cancelled year-end camping trips to Eagle Bay Camp because of the strike upsetting students and their parents who helped raise money...
Elementary teacher encourages phones in class
KAMLOOPS - They have them, so why not use them? That is the mentality of one teacher who is trying to show young students how to use smartphones and tablets as more than just an entertainment device. Teacher Jason Sandhu has always loved technology and is constantly looking for ways to bring it into his...
Teacher strikes to continue next week
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — If you have kids, be prepared to find alternate plans next week because the teachers’ union has announced a second week of rotating strikes, set to take place next week. Students in the Central and North Okanagan School Districts (SD23 and SD83) will be home Monday, June 2. On Tuesday, the strikes rotate...
Stuart Wood decision left for another day
KAMLOOPS - The board asked several questions and the report was accepted but the decision on what exactly to do with Stuart Wood Elementary School will have to be dealt with at a later date. “No decisions have been made,” School District 73 Trustee Cara McKelvey says. “Some trustees asked questions around heritage status and...
District track meet cancelled amid strike action
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...
Decision on Stuart Wood expected soon
KAMLOOPS - A report with recommendations on whether the school district should relocate students and shut down Stuart Wood Elementary School will be presented to trustees Monday. In November administration made several recommendations focused on realigning catchment areas to help ease enrolment pressures at some high schools. Following much of the realignment it was suggested...
UPDATE: Teacher strikes begin Monday
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Teachers announced today they will conduct a rotating strike next week in an effort to move along negotiations with the province. The strike begins Monday, May 26 in School District 67 (Okanagan Skaha) and will be followed by the Central Okanagan (SD23) and North Okanagan-Shuswap (SD83) districts Tuesday. On Wednesday, May 28 teachers...
High school trades students face delays
KAMLOOPS - A significant number of students will be affected by a delay in the construction of the new NorKam Trades Centre of Excellence. School District 73 Superintendent Terry Sullivan says they were expecting the centre to be ready for the beginning of the school year but construction delays mean it won’t be ready until...
School district bans e-cigarettes
KAMLOOPS - Without much discussion the school district board easily passed an amendment to the smoke-free policy banning e-cigarettes and related items on school grounds. Staff recognized the need to change the policy, which is intended to keep the school grounds smoke-free, to include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) based on advice from health agencies. “They’re not...
Young boys report stranger danger in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS — Two young boys were offered a ride home by a unknown male yesterday afternoon, prompting a warning from RCMP for parents to review stranger awareness with their children. Police say two six-year-old boys were walking on the north side of the Parkcrest Elementary School grounds near Edgemount Avenue Wednesday when a man in...
Neighbours working together to have concerns heard
KAMLOOPS – A former city councillor along with a few other concerned citizens has created a group for downtown residents to voice their concerns. Denis Walsh helped create the Downtown and West End Residents' Association to represent the concerns of residents living downtown and on the west side of 1 Avenue. The objective of the...
Debate over Stuart Wood closure continues
KAMLOOPS — Tonight more voices will be heard on a current proposal to close down Stuart Wood School in downtown and realign several other schools to make room in a different building for those students. Many people have been lamenting the idea since the school district first made the proposal public in November. Many letters...
Closure of Stuart Wood building still on agenda
KAMLOOPS — The closure of Stuart Wood School and relocation of staff and students up the hill is still one of several boundary and enrolment changes under consideration by the school district. In November School District 73 released a report outlining several changes it was looking at over the next few years to help alleviate...
The future of our schools
SD73 LOOKS AT PORTABLES, EXPANSIONS AND CLOSURES KAMLOOPS – As the city continues to grow, school enrolment grows as well–at least in some neighbourhoods. This lopsided growth at city schools has the school district looking at options to better accommodate current and future students. A report from Kamloops-Thompson School District Assistant Superintendent Karl deBruijn looks...