OSSTF strike has ripple effect on bussing for elementary students this morning; afternoon smoother

Jeff Green | Dec 04, 2019

The one-day secondary school teachers strike sparked a bit of confusion at Granite Ridge Education Centre (GREC) this morning. Although the grade 9-12 students did not have classes today, the school is still open for elementary students. GREC is a JK-12 school.

Jen Cox, from Cox Bus Line, was the first bus in line this morning at GREC, and following a recommendation from Tri-Board Transportation, she approached the school from Dixon Crescent, a side street, instead of her usual entrance off Road 38.

"I was asked to wait for two minutes by the teachers on the picket line, and then they waived me through and I delivered the kids to the school the way I always do, It was not problem," she said. "I heard that at least one of the companies told their drivers to drop the children off at the entrance to the school instead of on the school grounds in case there was a problem, which was one of the options mentioned in a memo we received from Tri-board transportation."

When contacted, Andreal Locan, OSSTF (Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation) District 27 Bargaining President,  said that she has been informed that  some of the bus drivers dropped students off at the edge of the school property.

"We have been in touch with Tri-Board transportation and the strike captain at Granite Ridge  as well, to make sure that the busses will not be stopped at all when they do their afternoon pickup," she said. "That should make things easier this afternoon for the drivers, and the children," she said.

When the Frontenac News arrived at the school at 8:15 this morning, some parents were still arriving at school by car  with their children. They were encouraged to exit road 38 by the striking teachers but were then blocked from fully - entering the school grounds by a picket line. The picketers asked the parents to wait for 2 minutes before allowing them to pass. The three cars that we observed complied with the request. On OPP cruiser was parked across the road, just out of sight from the school.

(This article has been update through the morning)