Back to school; still work-to-rule for elementary teachers

PEC OPP Community Services Officer Anthony Mann and driver Terry Kewley remind motorists to be aware. – File photo

School buses will be on the move bright and early Tuesday morning as more than 15,000 students return to school in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

Work-to-rule campaigns continue where they left off in June as the Elementary Teachers’ Federation and education workers are still without contracts. However, the parties are now back at the bargaining tables, and are expected to meet again Tuesday.

No classroom disruptions are expected but teachers, in phase two of work-to-rule, were asked not to plan fundraising activities or field trips, or attend open houses after regular school hours.

The ETFO is in a legal strike position and with five days notice, could walk out any time this fall. The contract expired in August 2014.

High school teachers and English Catholic teachers had contracts negotiated over the summer.

Motorists are reminded of the expected increase in pedestrians, cyclists and school buses, and give themselves extra commuting time.

Prince Edward County OPP Community Services Officer Anthony Mann reminds motorists to stop for a school bus when its overhead lights are flashing and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing or the bus begins to move.

Motorists encountering a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing are required to stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing. The minimum fine for failing to stop is $400.

This applies whether you are meeting or following a school bus, and includes multi-lane roads. (The only exception is to traffic when driving on a road with a median. Traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop.)