Members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) from the Madawaska Valley family of schools demonstrated their support at an action today in Barry’s Bay. Staff representing Whitney Public School, Sherwood Public School, Killaloe Public School and Palmer Rapids Public School gathered at Zurakowski Park to show solidarity together. They walked along the Opeongo Line displaying signs protesting against the province’s position in the education negotiations. Pictured above are many of the afternoon demonstrators who relieved a morning group at lunchtime.
Nancy Matschke, ETFO union steward for Palmer Rapids Public School, said the staff involved in today’s action were not just teachers. They included personal support personnel, school support counsellors, education support personnel – a representation of the entire ETFO membership. They were also accompanied by some people from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF).
Maschke said, “For me, the big emphasis today is we need our support workers. We need our EPAs, we need our school support counsellors. We need that support in the classroom to meet all of the different needs of the students.”
As The Current spoke to school staff at the protest, John Yakabuski MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke released a statement about the Support for Parents initiative.