Minister of Education Stephen Lecce's Tuesday visit to the Ontario Early Years Centre in Grafton was attended by more than parents, guardians, staffers and toddlers, when a couple of striking teachers from St. Mary Elementary School crossed the street to pop in to comment on his remarks.
Lecce was accompanied by Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini as he toured the former two-room schoolhouse that now houses the OEYC as well as the Grafton library branch, visiting the day care downstairs and then the play centre upstairs to read Something From Nothing to the little ones.
Early Years manager Lesley Patterson praised the partnership the centre enjoys, including the library next door and the ministry – whose assistance made it possible to make the centre the community asset it is today. It's open weekdays and alternating Saturdays, incorporating outdoor play and library visits into their programming.
Lecce had favourable comments on the facility, noting the hanging-globe lights that had been kept from the building's schoolhouse days and still lend a vintage feel.
After the visit, Lecce and Piccini adjourned to the library to meet with the press, and the continuing teachers' strike was top-of-mind for everyone.
“The goal for the government is to get the students into class,” he stated.
“I appreciate the escalation will have a real negative effect on the working people, which is why we announced financial support for families,” Lecce said, referring to the financial hardships some families are experiencing as a result of strike days,
Asked if there is any room for negotiation, he said he believes the government has demonstrated that there is.
“We will continue to be a reasonable force at the table, and I think parents expect all the parties to do that. We will do everything we can to demonstrate we want to keep students in class.”
Parents are frustrated, he said.
“They want the impact to end. Enough is enough.
“The goal for us is to focus on getting a deal. Mediation, we think, is an effective way to drive all parties to make a few gives and get to a deal.”
Piccini reported on his conversations with students, parents and teachers, and pledged to invest in front-line services in this riding.
“Special-ed funding is up at KPR (the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School board),” he said - “funding for student transportation in rural ridings, mental-health supports of $40-million across the the province with increased support in this riding as well.”
“Clearly parents are losing patience with the impacts of these strikes,” Lecce reiterated.
“I think they have been clear with the frustration and hardship imposed on them through no fault of their own. That is not lost on the government.
“But I think we have been clear that it can't go on indefinitely. There will be some finality to it.
“Right now we are focusing on hunkering down and trying to get a voluntary agreement, which is really the best option. There's a lot more to do, and it's really the only win-win outcome.”
At that point, librarian Kate Sheehan turned to see who was entering the building before the teachers came into the room waving smaller versions of the picket signs they carry outdoors.
“Let's be fair,” the spokesteacher said - “I should think you would want us here.”
“I have indicated we stand ready to negotiate, and our goal is to get a deal,” Lecce continued, addressing not the teachers but members of the media.
“As do the teachers,” she stated.
He further described hardships parents have related to him.
“We are the first to acknowledge that. We want to resolve this. The hardship is on all the parties,” he said.
“That's right,” the teacher retorted.
“Teachers are up to $2,000 without pay.”
As Lecce concluded his remarks, the teachers left peacefully, having been careful to make their remarks audibly without shouting.
Lecce spoke to Sheehan about how important the broadband the library offers is to the community, noting that this is an important consideration for when e-learning requirements come into effect.