The Greater Essex District School Board fears job losses if elementary school teachers continue work to rule.

Thursday, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario instructed its members not to do anything more than their regular work requirements.

Superintendent Warren Kennedy on Friday called the decision by teachers to withold their voluntary services "illegal strike action" and worried that students may transfer to the Catholic school board if extra-curricular activities don't return.

"Some of our students may end up migrating to other school boards. Students and parents, in my opinion, have lost their patience," Kennedy said. "This has the potential to cost members and teachers jobs."

Kennedy, though, said teachers who want to volunteer should be allowed to do so.

"Voluntary means voluntary," Kennedy said plainly. "I want to publicly thank our teachers who have been volunteering for our students. I know there are more who want to participate in activities outside the classroom and I encourage them to do so."

The Anderdon Public School Mustangs marching band, for example, performed at the grand opening of the new Family Learning Place at Windsor Regional Hospital.

A statement released by the union Thursday said, "While we have experienced a marked and welcome change in the Wynne government's approach to addressing its relationship with teachers, this has yet to translate into real change."

Because of this "ETFO’s advice regarding voluntary/extra-curricular activities remains unchanged."

Last week, the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation (OSSTF) said union leaders had agreed to "suspend political action regarding voluntary activities" and urged its members to resume extracurriculars.

However, the OSSTF said it would be up to each individual teacher to decide how to act, and many teachers do not want to resume due to anger over imposed contracts.

Kennedy said the board is looking into how to allow parents to volunteer to coach or chaperone trips. At the very least, he said, police background checks would be needed.

"If the teacher aren't going to volunteer outside the classroom ... there are parents who have contacted the school board and schools who said they would be happy to help," Kennedy said. "The magic in the classroom continues but I think there are parents who want their sons and daughters to get that experience outside the classroom."