Both the public and Catholic school boards are keeping a close eye on negotiations involving custodial workers ahead of making any decisions about possible school closures in the area.
On Wednesday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representing custodial workers announced their intent to proceed with a full legal strike beginning on Monday, Oct. 7.
Both local boards say they remain "hopeful" that strike action can be averted.
"We do know that continued negotiations are scheduled for this weekend between CUPE, the provincial government and the trustee associations and we remain hopeful that an agreement is reached," Brian Beal, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's director of education, said in a letter to parents.
The Catholic board is "encouraging" parents to seek alternative arrangements for their children next week.
Student and staff safety is a top priority, Beal said.
"We know that custodial staff play an important role in keeping our schools safe and clean, and so strike action would undoubtedly have an impact on your child’s learning environment," he added.
No decisions have been made, however, about whether or not schools will be open for student learning on Monday morning should a full strike proceed.
"We understand that a decision to cancel classes on Monday would have a significant impact on our families," Beal said.
The board says it will notify parents of any decisions that could affect them "as soon as humanly possible," while adding updates will be posted here under Labour Updates.
The Simcoe County District School Board sent a similar message to families today updating them on the situation and whether any schools could be closed.
All schools currently remain open to students and staff.
"Staff are evaluating the potential impacts of a full, legal strike, which could at some point include the decision to close all SCDSB schools to students," the public school board says.
The Simcoe County District School Board says it will communicate directly with parents and guardians by email and/or phone only if a decision is made to close schools to students.
"Should the decision be made to close schools to students, before- and after-school programs in our buildings will not run," adds the public board's statement.
Any information about closures will be posted here at 6 a.m. by a "special alert" on the day the closures would begin.
