Upcoming graduation ceremonies will proceed as planned, without teacher involvement.
Now that the ongoing teachers’ dispute has escalated into full-scale strike action, teachers will not be helping with any aspects of setting up and running the graduation ceremonies.
“Teachers are not participating in graduation ceremonies at this time,” said Brenda O’Dell, president of the North Okanagan Shuswap Teachers Association.
O’Dell said that if the B.C. Teachers Federation and the B.C. Public School Employer’s Association happen to sign a deal before graduation ceremonies are to take place, individual teachers can decide how they want to volunteer their time.
O’Dell refused to comment about whether teachers are permitted to attend graduation ceremonies as guests.
Organizer of Salmon Arm Secondary’s Dry Grad, Daylene Fleming, said that they’ve had to call on administration to step in and help to organize, set up and run the event.
Fleming said the dry grad has gone slightly over budget because no one can get into the school to gather supplies such as cups and cutlery for the event.
“We’ll figure it out one way or another,” said Fleming. “It’s just little hiccups that have gotten in the way.”
Salmon Arm Secondary grad ceremonies take place Thursday, June 26 at the Shaw Centre, followed by dry grad at the SASCU Recreation Centre.