A Sudbury school board says some of the report cards being sent out now may be a little light on teacher comments as some teachers continue to protest a provincial bill that forces a wage freeze on teachers and limits their right to strike.

The director of education with the Rainbow District School Board in Sudbury said some elementary teachers in his board have decided to give less report card feedback this year.

"Some of them have decided to do the bare minimum,” Norm Blaseg said.

“We have to respect that given the current conditions, although we don't agree with it."

Blaseg says teachers use their own personal judgment when deciding what or how much to write on report cards.

'A little bit briefer'

Ministry of Education standards say a teacher can meet minimum report card requirements by writing a single sentence, as long as it outlines the student's strengths and weaknesses, and details next steps.

One parent whose son attends Macleod Public School in Sudbury said he has noticed a difference in this year's report card.

"[It’s] a little bit briefer,” Todd Herold said.

“But our teacher who handles our son’s classes [is] still giving feedback with what's going on with our son, so I'm still quite content with what's happening."

Blaseg said concerned parents should use parent teacher interviews this week and next to get more feedback from staff members.

"If you receive a report card that is the bare minimum, as a parent you'd want to correspond with the staff member or the teacher to say 'can we have a conversation now?’ If that can happen, then that's not a bad thing at all, I think it's a great thing,” he said.

“So if it entices the opportunity to have some dialogue, then it works out really well."