What you need to know as Alberta schools plan to reopen after strike

Teachers, students and parents are preparing for a return to classrooms this week after provincial orders are mandating teachers back to work.

Classes in schools around Alberta are expected to resume on Wednesday after the province passed the Back to School Act to end a teachers’ strike that began in early October. The legislation forces teachers back to work by imposing a collective agreement and invoking the notwithstanding clause to shield it from court challenges for the duration of the four-year deal.

More than 51,000 teachers represented by the Alberta Teachers' Association walked off the job on Oct. 6, cancelling classes for around 750,000 students at public, Catholic and francophone schools.

Both the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) informed parents on Tuesday they plan to reopen their schools to students on Wednesday. The CCSD added that student teachers will return to schools on the week of Nov. 3.

Lethbridge's public and Catholic boards, the Medicine Hat Public School Division, Rocky View Schools, Foothills School Division, Grasslands Public Schools and Canadian Rockies Public Schools all plan to resume classes as scheduled on Wednesday as well. 

The province made November diploma exams for Grade 12 students optional due to the strike. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said on Tuesday he'd like the province to consider the same decision for the exams scheduled in January, because some teachers are concerned they won't be able to make up for the time they lost during the strike.

In an interview with The Homestretch’s Chris dela Torre, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said he hopes to make a decision in the next few days on whether or not Grade 12 diploma exams and provincial assessment tests for grades 6 and 9 students will still be required.

And in a letter to parents of students in the Edmonton Public School Board, Nicolaides wrote: "As a parent myself, I understand the concerns and frustrations parents are feeling about upended routines and missed classroom time. I want to assure you my department is working closely with our school boards to put plans in place to support student success throughout the rest of the year."

He also stressed that the Parent Payment Program, which began during the strike, will remain open for applications until Nov. 14. First payments are set to go out on Friday.

While classes are set to begin Wednesday, the CBE told parents all extracurricular activities may not resume as normal this week.

“Our top priority is ensuring a smooth transition back to school that supports student learning and success,” the CBE’s message to parents said.

The CBE said teachers will be focused primarily on teaching, and activities like athletics, performances, field trips, school council meetings, and other events and extracurriculars may be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled.

“We can expect it will take some time for a full return to normal operations,” the CBE said.