Schools under the control of Ottawa’s largest school board could now be closed if they become unsafe for students.
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board held an emergency meeting Tuesday night, a day after many Ontario high school teachers stepped up job action against the government’s anti-strike wage freeze bill.
Board chair Jennifer McKenzie said the decision was made for student safety at a time when supervision is mostly reduced, and schools would likely be closed for a day or two if the decision was made.
"If the job action makes the situation in a school unsafe, we're giving the staff authority to close the school," she said.
"They will do it under a lot of consideration, but they have that authority now."
The board also said two small fires at South Carleton High School prompted some of the discussion that night.
Job action being taken by teachers includes not supervising after-school activities, not attending staff meetings and potentially delaying provincial testing.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Claudia Cautillo
