The ongoing work-to-rule campaigns by public elementary and high school teachers will have a direct impact on first term report cards. The Renfrew County District School Board confirmed the news this afternoon that there will be no report cards for elementary students and high school students will get grade only report cards. Director of Education for the Renfrew County District School Board, Pino Buffone explains.
The board says this part of legal job action by members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. However, the board says that teachers will continue to assess and monitor student progress on a daily basis. If parents or guardians want to discuss their child’s academic progress, the board says they can contact their child’s teacher. The board goes on to say that Grade 12 students’ marks will be submitted to the Ontario College Application Service and to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre as per the usual timelines so College and University applications are not jeopardized.
Meanwhile, according to Jaimie Perry, Director of Education for the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board, report cards are scheduled to be sent home in February as usual. However, he says they will contain less information than usual as teachers are only inputting marks and/or limited comments depending on grade. If there is a change, he says they will advise parents. The province’s four teachers unions say they are looking to reduce class sizes, ensure the current kindergarten program, protect resources for special needs students and a cost of living adjustment of two percent. The province says they hope to come to a voluntary agreement with the unions. No new talks have been scheduled for the near future.
