School cutbacks blamed for 'disgusting' situation - Elementary kids tracking feces, vomit
By Jack Keating
The Province
October 2, 2009

A New Westminster elementary school has been turned into a health hazard by B.C. government cutbacks, parents say.

To offset a budget deficit, the Royal City's school district laid off a number of support staff and two custodians.

That meant the 140 students at F.W. Howay Elementary were left without a daytime custodian and, when vomit and feces in the school washroom were tracked through the hallways last week, there was no one to clean it up, parents said….

Vowles wants the daytime custodian back in the school.

She said parents are also concerned that cutbacks have delayed replacing the school's "disgusting" 30-year-old carpet.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents support staff and custodians, backs the parents' complaints.

"There should be a day custodian at every school," said CUPE Local 49 president Marcel Marsolais….

New Democratic Party education critic Robin Austin said: "We have finally hit a crisis. School boards can't absorb these cuts and increased operating expenses without compromising the quality of public education in British Columbia. Our children deserve better."