Open letter to the community and parents of children attending school in SD38,
The Richmond Board of Education understands that our entire learning community feels strongly that schools need to begin on Sept. 2 as planned.
The Board of School Trustees also understands the impact that the current labour dispute between the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) is having on our entire community, but most importantly our children.
We are actively advocating for a negotiated resolution to the dispute in time for school start-up.
As an active member of the British Columbia School Trustees’ Association (BCSTA), our Board strongly supports its Back To School Action Plan which calls on BCPSEA and the BCTF to reach a settlement by August 31, 2014. The BCSTA’s entire plan can be found on their website at bcsta.org
To date we have consistently advocated for public education in a variety of different ways.
During the current labour unrest we have specifically advocated for a negotiated settlement through the following strategies:
June 23/14, Ministry conference call;
June 25/14, Letter to President of BCTF and Minister of Education;
July 11/14, RTA meeting with Trustees;
July 11/14, Letter to the Minister of Education;
July 14/14, Information Sharing meeting;
July 16/14, Meeting with MLA, Reid;
July 18/14, Letter to the President of the BCSTA requesting a meeting with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Education;
July 18/14, Letter to the Minister of Finance requesting a meeting;
July 24/14, Meeting with MLA, Yap;
July 29/14, BCSTA conference call;
Aug 18/14, In-Camera Meeting with Trustees;
Aug 19/14, BCPSEA conference call;
The Richmond Board of Education supports sustainable education funding that will serve the needs of all our students.
We are advocating for stability in the public education system so that we may accomplish the goal of public education to create educated citizens. We are hopeful that BCPSEA and the BCTF resume negotiations and begin mediation to reach a negotiated settlement prior to the beginning of the school year.
Our students deserve a stable and sustainable public education system that places the needs of all students first.
The Richmond School District will continue to communicate with parents and our community regarding any changes or developments in the job action status through school and district websites, as well as through the use of social media such as SD38’s Twitter and Facebook.
We invite you to advocate directly with your local provincial representatives and the BCTF for a resolution.
We continue to be your grassroots representatives, so feel free to contact us with any questions or thoughts that you may have.
Donna Sargent, Chairperson, on behalf of the Richmond Board of Education
