What to expect this week at Waterloo region's schools with ongoing contract negotiations

As the province continues to negotiate contracts with unions representing teachers and education workers, more strikes are planned around the province.

Not all of the strikes will impact Waterloo region, though.

Here's what parents and caregivers can expect this week.

Catholic teacher's strike

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association will have a one-day strike on Tuesday if a deal isn't reached with the province.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board say both elementary and secondary schools will be closed on Tuesday.

However, all WCDSB extended day programs will be open for the day as usual for students currently registered in the program.

Secondary school credit courses offered at the WCDSB's St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres campuses will be cancelled on January 21, but all other St. Louis programs will be open and running on their normal schedules.

As well, community use of schools activities will continue as scheduled.

"We remain hopeful the two sides will return to the bargaining table quickly and will come to a fair and respectful agreement that serves the best interests of our students," the Waterloo Catholic District School Board said on its website.

Elementary teachers walk out

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has planned a one-day walkouts each day this week but schools in Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington county are not impacted.

Local schools will be open this week for regularly scheduled classes. The WRDSB and WCDSB both have planned PD days on Friday.

Monday's walkout includesToronto, York Region and Ottawa-Carleton. On Tuesday, members in the boards of Grand Erie, Trillium Lakelands, Renfrew and Superior-Greenstonewill strike. On Wednesday,Thames Valley, Rainbow and Rainy River school boards will strike.

On Thursday, theAvon MaitlandDistrict School Board, which includes Stratford, Huron and Perth Counties, will be impacted by the strike, as willHalton, Niagara andLakehead school boards.

Friday's planned strike will impact the Bluewater and Ontario North East school Boards.

ETFO president Sam Hammond says the province has not returned to contract talks since the last bargaining session on Dec. 19.

"We have no choice but to commence rotating strikes starting this Monday as our only means of forcing the government to get serious about negotiations and the future of public education," Hammond said.

High school teachers strike again, escalate job action

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation is also planning a one-day walkout on Tuesday.

Schools in Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington County are not impacted by this one-day walkout and schools will be open.

As well, the OSSTF has announced additional job action including:

Teacher and occasional teachers will no longer perform on-calls, although supervisions will remain in place in order to ensure student safety.

Members will not take on any additional work of teachers or workers who are of the bargaining unit who are absent. There will be an exception where students with special needs are reassigned between educational assistants if someone is away.

Teachers and workers will not assume responsibility for verifying or finding replacements for the absence of other employees. Absent employees will still report their own absences as per normal procedures.

The OSSTF announced this would be the last one-day walkout until after exams are over for high school students.