Sports to return to RRHS

Ken Johnston
Editor

Sports will be back in full force at Rainy River High School this fall!

That is a result of a letter of understanding that has been signed between the teachers and the board of education that restructures their workloads to a more manageable level.

Vice-principal Donna Kowalchuk said that the deal was worked out after the province backed off its earlier stance and passed a bill allowing boards to negotiate workloads for teachers. That happened after teachers refused for the most part to coach or lead extracurricular activities last year.

Principal Bob McGreevy said that the government realized that the public wanted co-curricular activities and passed bill 80 to deal with the issue that virtually crippled sports programs last year.

Using an average formula the teachers workload will be about 6 out of 8 courses per year. Last year some had to teach half courses, which McGreevy said was difficult. Not only was sharing a class tough, but it added another set of report cards and that many more parents to meet with.

By taking teachers that run programs like coop and guidance and applying a 8 out 8 course load number to them the average teachers load will be 6 out of 8. That gives them time to coach or lead extracurricular activities like drama.

McGreevy is confident that a full range of sports programs will be in place this year. They include volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, curling, hockey and track and field (the latter two are part of a coop with Baudette and are played there).