With a lot of talk — but no action — the union representing Ontario’s elementary teachers has decided to continue its protest of extracurricular activities that has left students without clubs and sports since the start of the school year.

The news dashed the hopes of more than 900,000 public elementary students, their parents — and even the premier — who were optimistic the union would follow the province’s high school teachers and give the go-ahead.

“I am disappointed,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne, who had wanted good news before March break.

“But that’s their decision,” added Wynne, after arriving Thursday in Sault Ste Marie where cabinet is meeting Friday.

Martin Long, president of the Toronto local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, said while talks between the union and province have been cordial, “what we’ve heard from members is that it’s nice to know we have these positive vibes at the meetings, but we need to see something beyond that.

“We need the steak behind the sizzle.”

Long said the union will continue discussions with the government. “Both sides are saying they’ll stay engaged in conversation and keep talking about these things . . . until there is something concrete.”

But with just four months left of classes, it’s unknown if anything can be resolved in time.

Michael Barrett, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, warned kids could be in for two years with no extracurriculars.

“The impact will be long lasting, and will impact the educational experience for all children,” he said.

The news prompted some Toronto parents to renew their call for the board to make it easier for them, and community members, to run activities, as a handful of other boards have done.

Kourosh Houshmand and Hirad Zafari, the Toronto District School Board’s student trustees, are working on a plan to do just that and hope to soon present it to the board.

While the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation decided last Friday to end its extracurricular protest as a goodwill gesture in light of positive talks with the province, not all members have returned to running after-school sports and clubs.

However, principals say activities are picking up, and expect more in the coming weeks.

Elementary teachers stopped running extracurriculars back in September, and in December staged one-day strikes across the province to protest the government’s Bill 115, which curbed their bargaining rights and imposed contracts with unpaid days off, wage freezes for some, fewer sick days and an end to payouts of unused sick days at retirement.

David Clegg, who heads York Region’s elementary teachers’ local, said the province offered “no substantive or concrete agreement on outstanding issues” and that’s why the union’s stance hasn’t changed.

“I don’t think people fully appreciate the depth of genuine animosity that teachers have right now towards the position they’ve been put in.”

He said teachers want to bargain and vote on collective agreements.

Sources said the elementary union was also mindful of the social media backlash against the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation after its president, Ken Coran, announced the change in position on extracurriculars.

Education Minister Liz Sandals said the same message was delivered to both teacher unions: “There is no new money.”

Meanwhile, parents are searching for solutions to improve morale at schools.

Families are “are really feeling left out in the cold because we don’t have a seat at the table in terms of the dispute, and yet our children are being affected on a daily basis,” said Toronto parent Katie Fisher.

Fisher is a part of CAPE (Children’s Advocates for Public Education), which began last year after the labour turmoil started.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“This is having a major impact on the environment in public schools,” she said, adding that CAPE would like for parents to be able to step in for the time being to run clubs and sports.

“Extracurriculars are an integral part of the whole school experience.”

She said parents, initially supportive of teachers, are finding it “more and more difficult . . . when they see their children caught in the middle with very little regard.”