An arbitrator’s decison on next school year’s calendar for Chilliwack is binding, the Chilliwack Board of Education has been informed.
The information was distributed Friday afternoon (April 24) in the agenda for the April 28 board meeting.
The arbitrator had been called in to resolve a disagreement over the calendar between the board and the Chilliwack Teachers’ Association. But a slimmed down board rejected the arbitrator’s decision at the previous meeting, and was ready to either send it back to her for review, or pursue the matter further legally.
While it’s unclear what will ensue at the April 28 meeting, the report in the agenda states that “The Board has been advised by legal counsel that the decision of Arbitrator (Elaine) Doyle regarding the 2020 – 2021 calendar is binding on the Board.”
READ MORE: Chilliwack school board rejects arbitration ruling on calendar
Doyle’s chosen calendar includes a two-week spring break. Three of five trustees that discussed the matter did not agree that a two-week break would be ideal for many families in Chilliwack, following this year’s economic hardships due to the novel coronavirus, and the loss of classroom time endured this school year.
Watch for more on this decision following the April 28 meeting. The public can join in the meeting virtually this time, by pre-registering through www.sd33.bc.ca. There will be a public participation portion where questions can be typed in a chat, and answered in real time.
READ MORE: Public invited to join discussion in online Chilliwack board of education meeting
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