North Battleford band trip to NYC expected to go ahead despite sanctions

Students and parents at a North Battleford high school are breathing a sigh of relief.

On Thursday, 29 members of the band program at North Battleford Comprehensive High School are scheduled to fly from Saskatoon to New York City for a five-day trip, but the plans were uncertain for several weeks as teachers continued to implement sanctions during their contract negotiations with the provincial government.

Those sanctions have included the withdrawal of support for extracurricular activities, which could have put an end to the trip. But Dominique Mannix, the parent of a student in the school’s band program, said it seems like that’s not going to happen.

“The sanctions this week were scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and since we leave Thursday morning it looks like we can still go,” said Mannix.

Teachers have so far provided 48 hours’ notice in advance of new sanctions, and that deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon when it comes to extracurriculars. Some divisions wont have lunch-hour supervision Thursday.

“We haven’t had any kind of guarantees, but the fact you’re supposed to give 48 hours’ notice and it’s 48 hours (now), we’re assuming we’re good to go,” Mannix said on Tuesday.

“Without the teacher, we aren’t able to go. Once we’re already on the trip and already gone, we can stay through the whole trip. We’re gone until Monday.”

Parents and students might be dodging a bullet, but it hasn’t meant they’ve been free of issues due to the ongoing contract dispute. Because of previous sanctions, the high school missed out on a major fundraiser last week, which means parents are currently on the hook for an extra combined $3,000 to help cover the costs of the trip.

There were plans for a band performance and silent auction during the fundraiser, but the event was considered an extracurricular activity and had to be scrapped as no teachers would offer supervision.

“We’re hoping to have a fundraiser after we come back and raise some of that money, but for now that’s on pause,” Mannix added.

While in New York, the students will be visiting Central Park, Radio City Music Hall and Times Square, and will also perform at various different venues throughout the Big Apple.

Mannix said each student paid $3,400 for the trip, and most have been fundraising for over a year.

Teachers have been without a contract since their previous collective agreement expired in August. The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation said it won’t return to the bargaining table and sanctions will continue until the provincial government agrees to include stipulations on class size and classroom complexity into their new contract. The union is also pushing for a salary increase.

“Teachers understand that the withdrawal of noon-hour supervision is an inconvenience to many families,” the federation said in a statement.

“Parents and caregivers concerned about the impact of job action should contact their MLAs and elected school board trustees and ask them to encourage the government’s bargaining committee to return to the table with a new mandate.”