Information about term-one report cards

Limestone Learning Foundation
Information about term-one report cards
Posted on 01/23/2020
As you know, members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) are participating in legal job action across the province, including here in Limestone. This ongoing provincial labour disruption involves the withdrawal of administrative duties and rotating one-day strikes.

Due to the withdrawal of administrative duties, LDSB schools will not be issuing term one report cards for elementary students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. Parents and guardians can contact their child’s teacher to learn of their progress.

The production of report cards for Limestone’s 13,000 elementary students relies on the electronic inputting of assessment data by teachers. This translates into about 300,000 individual pieces of data. Our principals and vice-principals cannot do the work of more than 800 classroom teachers. Nor can this work be outsourced to other Board staff or external agencies due to the significant unbudgeted cost, and concerns about accuracy and, more importantly, privacy given the confidential information that is part of a child’s report card. 

In secondary, report cards with marks only, will be issued.

We know how important these reports are to families and students, but it’s also important to remember that report cards are not the sole record of achievement data for your child. As always, parents and guardians can contact their child’s teacher to discuss their progress and/or concerns.

One-day rotating strikes: All Limestone schools will be open on Monday, January 27, 2020 and Tuesday, January 28, 2020. All classes will operate as scheduled. It may be prudent for families to continue to make alternative arrangements for child care should rotating strikes occur in Limestone. The Board will be given five days notice should strike action take place.

In Limestone, OSSTF represents education workers including secondary school teachers, occasional teachers, professional student services personnel, and community education instructors. ETFO-Limestone represents elementary teachers in the LDSB.

We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached soon at the central bargaining table between the province, the unions, and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), which represents public school boards at the provincial table.

The Board will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Debra Rantz,
Director of Education

 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.