School Board Contracts

The Near North District School Board held a special meeting Tuesday to ratify a 2 year contract with its 130 clerical and technical support staff, in all 5 contracts have been settled with the board’s employees.

Board Chair, Jay Aspin, said he is pleased that the Near North Board has finally been supplied with the tools necessary to improve education in the area.

“Basically the board is in really good shape as far as salary contracts for the next 2 years in some cases in some cases for the teachers 4 years, so we can really get on with the business of education.”

Aspin says the negations have left the board in good spirits as this round of negotiations did not see the strife that so many have in the past have.

“Accolades have to go to the government for providing the resources and the scenario to be able to do that, clearly education is a priority when they’ve done this and I think it’s made it easier for our board and all of the boards in Ontario.”

Aspin and the board have now turned their attention to the possible delay in opening the new school in Sturgeon Falls.

“There have been some difficulties there with the contractor, I think we’re going to error on the positive side, the precautionary side, it’s a safety issue and it’s not quite ready so there’ll likely be a delay of a day or two before that school opens.”

Aspin was quick to ensure that the delay is not anticipated to be long and will not put the childrens’ year in jeopardy.

“Absolutely not it’s simply a safety issue. We really won’t be satisfied with students entering that school unless it’s safe to enter. I think they’re completing the floors of the school this weekend and Thursday of next week will be the target when the school will be ready to go.”

Aspin offered apologies from the board to the parents for the inconvenience but wants to assure parents that the delay is worth the childrens’ safety.