EDMONTON — Alberta parents are bracing for a potential teacher strike or lockout as shifting provincial policies on books and sports also add confusion and chaos to the school year.

Last week, contract talks between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the provincial government broke down. As of Friday afternoon, the two sides remained at an impasse.

The union has been granted a strike mandate by 51,000 rank-and-file members, and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association has authorization for school boards to lock teachers out.

Meagan Parisian, vice-president of the Alberta School Councils’ Association, said parents are concerned about the serious impact of a labour disruption, with some families trying to arrange child care or potentially working from home.

“My elementary kids an

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