Teachers, trustees and parents join forces against government: Groups unite to oppose Liberal funding cuts that critics say will undermine B.C.'s public school system long-term
By Janet Steffenhagen
Vancouver Sun
October 6, 2009

Organizations representing school trustees, parents, teachers and support workers have joined forces for the first time to press the government to reverse funding decisions that they say threaten B.C.'s public school system.

In a carefully drafted letter, the B.C. School Trustees' Association, the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) warn Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid that recent cuts will hurt students.

… Until now, the unions have stood alone in criticizing the government over education spending, with the trustees' association and the parent organization either supporting the Liberals or remaining silent. ….

As well, the letter complains about the decision to move the CommunityLink program, which provides breakfast programs and other school supports for vulnerable children, out of the Education Ministry and into the Social Development Ministry where it will be funded with gambling grants.

"There is no guarantee that funding for this critically important program will be forthcoming in years to come, resulting in significant impact on our most vulnerable students as well as our aboriginal students," it says.

READ the letter