The Upper Canada District School Board will keep schools open – though it is recommending parents find alternate childcare in the event of a walk-out by teachers.

The board Superintendent, David Coombs, said he recognizes that daycare is not an option for many parents. So, he said, “To that end, our intent is to keep our schools open. Our schools will not run instructional programs and students will be congregated in locations such as gymnasiums where they will be safely supervised by non-teaching staff.”

The Board is asking parents to register their children in advance so the necessary resources can be in place in the event of a teacher walk out.

The date of a strike by ETFO has not been announced. Coombs expects the date to be clarified in the next few days.

Preregistration letters are being sent home with elementary students asking parents about their plans in the event of a strike.