The provincial government and CUPE are returning to the bargaining table this weekend in the hopes of averting a strike of over 55,000 education workers next week.
Both sides have agreed to a deadline of 5 p.m. on Sunday evening for a new deal, in order to provide parents with as much notice as possible for what to expect on Monday.
Local school boards have issued their contingency plans for if a deal cannot be reached by the deadline, with most shifting to remote learning on Monday. However, the Bluewater District School Board says there would be no classes on Nov. 21 in that scenario, to allow educators a chance to transition to remote learning. The school board says they only have the capacity to loan up to one device per family where necessary and that staff will collect information with a plan to distribute technology to those who need it by the middle of next week.
The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board will provide students with asynchronous remote lessons on Monday before moving to synchronous lessons on Tuesday.
The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board will also be moving to remote learning.
