The chair of the Kamloops-Thompson School Board is keeping a close eye on contract negotiations with the teachers union.

Talks have hit a wall over class size and composition with the chances rising of seeing negotiations being pushed into a new school year this fall.

Kathleen Karpuk says reaching a deal is simply not an easy process as she hopes things avoid any labour strife.

“We always have plans in place for when things go a little bit sideways. Hopefully bargaining won’t,” she said. “That is the biggest thing is that we are hoping that the two sides will stay together. Having bargaining dates into October is actually very hopeful news. So we are going to keep our fingers crossed that things go smoother this fall and that we don’t have any impact on students.”

Karpuk says the BC Public School Employers Association, which bargains on behalf of the government, is keeping school boars in the loop, and she calls the talks “challenging.”