School will start on Monday in Greater Victoria after 86 per cent of B.C. teachers voted in favour of a six-year contract.
It will be up to each individual school district in the province to determine how to make up for lost class-time, according to Greater Victoria school district chair Peg Orcherton.
“The ministry will likely provide some direction, but districts have the ability to establish their own calendars.”
Orcherton said there is no set plan yet, as discussions are still being had as far as how to provide students with a full school year.
Orcherton added it may end up being a combination of different things.
Unlike some districts, such as Sooke, Orcherton said maintenance and facilities staff were able to get into the schools and do regular maintenance and cleanup over the summer.
“We have separate facilities grounds and part of a labour relations ruling was that those couldn’t be picketed because there’s no teachers working there,” said Orcherton.
“So our schools are clean and ready for receiving teachers and students.”
BCTF president Jim Iker said the agreement provides for “hundreds of new teachers” as well as raises for regulaor and substitute teachers and improved extended health benefits.
The professional development day originally scheduled for Monday has been postponed, according to the school district 61 website.
