Dear parents and guardians: Unfortunately we have reached the end of the 2013/2014 school year and the full scale withdrawal of teaching services by members of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) continues.  I am writing you to give you an update regarding year-end report cards.  For K-7 students (K-9 at Rossland...

B.C. Labour Relations Board ruled during the weekend that remedial summer school courses are essential. However, the LBR said in its ruling this decision is reserved for students in Grade 10, 11 and 12 who failed one of the classes and cannot make it up in the next school year. No word how that affects summer school classes...

The future of Selkirk College’s renowned Aviation Program is precarious as best, but rumours it was closed altogether at a recent college board meeting are inaccurate, according to Selkirk president Angus Graeme. “I know the rumours swirl, and we’ve had to have some very difficult conversations with our faculty around the...

Despite agreeing to a tentative five-year contract earlier this month, more than 700 education support staff from CUPE 748 are walking the picket lines with their teacher colleagues. CUPE 748 members have been there right from the start of job action standing by the BC Teachers’ Federation and supporting their fellow union members. “Solidarity is […]

Protests and rallies are being held throughout the Kootenays today, including in Castlegar, as the conflict between the BC Teachers Federation and the provincial government continues to escalate. Kootenay Columbia Teachers Union president Andy Davidoff issued a release today indicating teachers will not be issuing report cards...

The B.C. Teachers Federation has said  veteran mediator Vince Ready has turned down a request to try to settle British Columbia’s teachers strike. BCTF spokesman Rich Overgaard says Vince Ready did not have time in his schedule to mediate the dispute between educators and the government. The BCTF is meeting to discuss alternative options. Nelson […]

Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA) students are closing out their studies with a Nelson springtime tradition. The annual Kootenay Studio Arts Year-End Show and Sale opens Friday afternoon at the Selkirk College downtown campus on the corner of Victoria and Josephine streets. The two-day student run show will feature works from students in the Blacksmithing, Ceramics, […]

Education Minister Peter Fassbender released the following statement on the status of bargaining with the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF): “The bargaining teams worked hard through the weekend and progress was made. “On Sunday, the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) tabled a comprehensive proposal to help end the stalemate, get kids back in […]

Now that the war of words through the media between the B.C. Teachers’ Federdation and the bargaining agent for the BC Government, the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, has died down, the two sides are apparently ready to go back to the bargaining table as more than 40,000 teachers spent time Tuesday on the picket […]

The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), the union representing teachers, has informed the school district that they will be engaged in a full day study session on Monday, June 16th, followed by full scale withdrawal of teaching services starting Tuesday, June 17, 2014.  This means that, unless a settlement is reached...