B.C. teachers face layoffs in funding crunch
January 19, 2010
CBC News

The Vancouver and Prince George school boards are considering widespread layoffs or school closures because of funding shortfalls, CBC News has learned.

In Vancouver, 800 teachers with less than five years of seniority were sent letters on Tuesday morning advising them of possible layoffs next year.

The letters follow a board meeting Monday night at which trustees were told the district could be facing a shortfall of $17.5 million to $36.3 million in the 2010/2011 school year.

That could mean the district will need millions of dollars to cover everything from salary and benefit increases to extra Medical Services Plan costs or make substantial layoffs.

The letters sent to the teachers are not layoff notices but, under the terms of the teachers' collective agreement, have to be sent out any time lay-offs are even being considered….

Board chair blames government

In a statement released Tuesday morning, Vancouver School Board chairperson Patti Bacchus blamed the increasing costs on provincial government policies.

"The district has increased costs coming due to decisions made at the provincial level," said Bacchus. "We believe the provincial government has an obligation to fund those costs to ensure we are able to provide adequate staffing and resource levels to meet the needs of our students.

"I got into this role because I believe passionately, even for my own kids, the kind of society we have is majorly affected by the public education we have," said Bacchus.

"We've already had to cut over $47 million in accumulated annual spending since the beginning of 2002/03, and further reductions will make it increasingly difficult to meet the learning needs of our students," she said.

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid responded that the B.C. Liberal government has continuously increased school funding….

Prince George also eyes closures

Further north in central B.C., the Prince George School District is expected to recommend school closures and job cuts at an emergency meeting on Tuesday night.

The school district has to cut about $7 million from its budget, according to the vice-chairperson of the school board, Lois Boone.

"I think it's fair to say we can't achieve the reductions required without school closures," she said….