Schools could be getting a little messier as superintendents and support staff ramp up their job action.
Contract negotiations with the province are at a stand-still, so librarians, custodians and educational assistants have moved to phase two of their job action.
It should only be minor inconveniences, but students will notice a change, and it raises the question, how far could this job action go?
The 5,500 CUPE members have been without a contract for more than a year, and now they're turning up the heat on the province.
How? Custodians will not sweep entrances or hallways, won't cut grass or clean chalk boards or white boards and won't be doing minor repairs.
Clerical staff will stop printing newsletters and preparing month-end reports for the education ministry.
Others won't make photocopies unless it's on paid time, won't buy school supplies with their own money or submit lesson plans.
And educations assistants won't take part in school fundraising or do lunch or hall duty, except for special needs students.
Terri Preston, CUPE's Ontario School Board committee chair, says, "We will do nothing to put students' safety at risk, so we have talked about sweeping hallways. If there is a spill, we will deal with those spills. So we will continue to make sure schools are safe. But we are withdrawing some of the services that people can expect."
Thames Valley District School Board Director Laura Elliott says there's no question the job action will have an impact, but she's uncertain to what extent.
"We need to, you know, remind parents that it is not business as usual, but certainly student safety is of primary importance and that would be for any employee within Thames Valley."
And while the custodians and support staff step up their job action, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is contemplating doing the same - possibly implementing one-day, rotating strikes at schools across the province.
For parents like those picking up kids at Aberdeen Public School the concern is for the kids.
Parent Peggy Beedie says, "My daughter just started kindergarten and I want to make sure that she's getting the full attention she needs and my son, as well. He has ADHD and he needs that attention from them."
Late Tuesday, the ETFO announced it was ready to resume contract negotiations with the province, after Education Minister Liz Sandals called on it to return to the bargaining table amid concerns about the possible rotating strikes.
In other job action, although public high school teachers have a provincial agreement, each local board still has to work out some details to finalize the contract.
Thames Valley teachers aren't pleased with the pace of those talks, so they're selectively withdrawing services, including not going to staff meetings or attending professional development days, though nothing that directly impacts students.
