The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB) is getting ready to close some schools. With no agreement reached between the province and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), plans are in the works to shift to remote learning starting next week.
CUPE represents custodians in 12 different Catholic Schools in Renfrew County with eight different schools that do not use CUPE custodians. Schools with CUPE staff will convert to remote learning and other schools will remain open with daily inspections.
If no deal has been reached by Monday or Tuesday, students who attend impacted schools with the RCCDSB will shift to asynchronous learning, meaning they will not follow usual daily class schedules, but work will be placed online to complete. By Wednesday, November 9th, if there is still no deal, RCCDSB students will transition to synchronous learning and follow their typical daily schedule remotely.
The following RCCDSB schools will close:
| St. Joseph’s Elementary, Arnprior | St. John Bosco, Barry’s Bay |
| St. Anthony’s, Chalk River | George Vanier, Combermere |
| St. Mary’s OLGC, Deep River | St. Andrew’s, Killaloe |
| Bishop Smith Catholic High School, Pembroke | Holy Name & Valleycrest, Pembroke |
| Our Lady of Lourdes, Pembroke | St. Francis of Assisi, Petawawa |
| St. Joseph’s High School, Renfrew | Our Lady of Grace, Westmeath |
The following RCCDSB schools will remain open:
| Our Lady of Sorrows, Petawawa | St. Michael’s, Douglas |
| St. Thomas the Apostle, Renfrew | Our Lady of Fatima, Renfrew |
| St. John XXIII, Anrpior | St. Joseph’s, Calabogie |
| St. James, Eganville | Cathedral, Pembroke |
UPDATE WITH RCDSB
Students who attend the Renfrew County District School Board moved to remote learning today. If the strike continues into next week, the RCDSB plans to continue with asynchronous learning on Monday and move to synchronous learning by Tuesday.
UPDATE WITH CEPEO
The Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) says schools switched to virtual learning today. If the strike continues, synchronous learning is expected to start on Monday.
UPDATE WITH CECCE
Le Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) says Jeanne-Lajoie in Pembroke will be impacted by the CUPE strike. The CECCE says students in schools affected by the job action will receive an electronic device on Friday with administration reassessing the decision to keep schools open as the situation evolves.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)