About 30 jobs will be saved in Vancouver schools, according to a revised budget proposal released by the Vancouver school board after the education ministry’s announcement earlier this week that school boards could keep the money they saved from planned administrative cuts.
Vancouver’s share of the money is $2.25 million, which reduces the district’s shortfall to $21.8 million and allow the district to keep at least nine teachers, 10 school-based office support positions, five special education support workers, two vice-principals and three other staff members.
Still on the table are the elimination of the optional band and strings program in elementary schools and cuts to teaching and teaching mentor positions, a literacy teacher consultant, a braillist, home instruction teachers, a multicultural liaison worker, some gifted staff, hearing and vision teachers, support workers, and special education workers.
In all, the government’s announcements in the last two months have reduced the number of job cuts at VSB from 167 to 98, the VSB said in a news release. But more than 71 of those positions that will still need to be cut to balance the budget have a direct impact on classrooms and learning, the VSB says.
Although the VSB trustees have not approved the budget, the superintendent is implementing the proposed cuts. The cuts will proceed unless the board approves a budget with other proposals.
Education Reporter
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