by Lyonel Doherty

School District 53 is trying to ensure consistency for students during provincial exams as the teachers’ strike continues without a resolution in sight.

Superintendent Bev Young said school administrators will be administering provincial exams. In the meantime, the board is working out details with the local union for marking the required sections of English 10 and Social Studies 11.

“We want to ensure that there is consistency for students,” she said.

In early December the Labour Relations Board issued an interim decision on the local marking of provincial exams. It stated that BC Teachers Federation members will continue to mark identified provincial exams as they have in the past, subject to administrators being utilized to the best extent possible. Young said the decision goes on to say that the parties should discuss how to implement this direction at the local level and ensure that marking is done in a timely manner to ensure student progress is not impeded.

The Essential Services Order outlines activities that teachers need not perform under phase one of their job action. The activities referenced include administering or supervising Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) or any district or ministry test.

However, Grade 12 marks required for graduation, post-secondary applications and scholarship purposes must be provided, Young said. Report cards issued for the end of semester one will have marks for Grade 12 students.

“We encourage any parent who has questions or concerns regarding their child’s progress to contact their child’s teacher for information.”

At the elementary level, administrators and exempt staff will be administering and marking the Grade 4 and 7 FSA tests, Young said.

She noted that preparing or distributing report cards continue to fall under the list of activities that BCTF members need not perform.

As for progress made in the strike . . .  you’ll be hard pressed to find any.

“Today (January 18) was the 70th day of bargaining and I don’t believe that they are much further ahead than when they began in March,” Young said.

The BCTF recently tabled its wage demands, which include a 15 per cent pay hike over three years. But the government continues to stand firm with its mandate, saying there will be no new money for teachers.

Ron Rachinski, president of the South Okanagan Similkameen Teachers Union, could not be reached for comment.