Strike Preparations Underway in Capistrano Unified

I've been hearing various things today as the Capistrano Unified School District teachers prepare to go on strike tomorrow.  At one high school they shut the school down at 3:30 pm today and all the door locks were being plugged to prevent vandalism overnight.  Teachers were taking home all of their personal belongings, and according to one report, had been told by the union to also take "anything that might help a substitute".

Here's some of what can be expected tomorrow:

While all 56 district campuses will remain open Thursday, bell schedules will be altered at many schools, and some classes will be canceled entirely, including zero period. At the district's six high schools, the school day will be shortened, with dismissal at 1:35 p.m.

Also, all bus transportation in the district will be canceled Thursday, except for special-education students.

School officials are telling parents that students will not necessarily report to their regular classrooms, and most after-school activities – from sports to tutoring to club meetings – will be canceled, at least on the first day of the strike.

Student drama and music productions, however, will continue as scheduled, as will after-school care programs and food services, according to the district.

"The district is arranging for substitute teachers and putting necessary plans in place to continue to keep schools open and provide a safe and operational educational program for our students and employees," the district said in a statement on its website. "Schools will send site-specific information to their communities. ... We appreciate your patience and understanding."

The district also is hiring unarmed security guards for all of its campuses to ensure picketers do not disrupt pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

It's going to get ugly.