Settling with teachers?

All schools within School District 23 will be closed next Tuesday (May 27) as teachers across the province step up job action in the hopes of attaining a new contract.

The BC Teachers' Federation announced phase two of job action yesterday (May 20). It will include a series of rotating, one-day strikes at various school districts around the province.

Teachers in SD 23, which encompasses schools from Peachland to Oyama, will begin their strike action next week.

Board chair Moyra Baxter, contacted in Osoyoos, said she knew an escalation of job action by the teachers was always a possibility.

"They did take a strike vote... but one is always hopeful things will get resolved before there is too much disruption to the system," said Baxter.

"Now it looks as though there is going to be more disruption which is very unfortunate, especially this time of year, with so much going on in the schools."

Baxter said district superintendent Hugh Gloster is making plans to send notices home to parents.

"My understanding is that schools will be closed next Tuesday," she said.

While administration staff will attend each school, Baxter said parents should make alternate arrangements for their children that day.

"There will always be somebody at the school in case students turn up. Everyone will be informed but we would never have the schools with nobody there," said Baxter.

"Principals usually do go in because there might be a family that hadn't heard. The last thing you would want is to have a child turn up at school and not know what is going on."