Board seeks funding to prevent teacher layoffs

Threatened layoffs of teachers in Vancouver and the possibility of school closings in Prince George could spread across the province unless the Liberal government, already promising a tough budget due to a $2.8-billion deficit, comes to the rescue with more money, education officials warn.

“I'm on a listserv with other chairs across the province. They all have the same cost pressures we do,” Patti Bacchus, chair of the Vancouver School Board, said yesterday as 800 teachers in the city – 20 per cent of teaching staff – began receiving letters that warn of possible layoffs this year.

In Prince George, the superintendent of schools suggested closings are among the measures being considered as the city's school district deals with funding issues.

Brian Pepper declined to give more details, pending the release of a report at a public meeting this week.

“We're facing considerable pressures. We have some revenue challenges and some expense challenges,” he said. “I sense that many boards are facing similar challenges.”

David Green, president of the B.C. Association of School Business Officials, said school boards across B.C. are facing an increase in costs of more than $250-million that is not covered by provincial funding in the next year.

Boards are not allowed to run deficits, he said, but some have carried forward surpluses they will have to use. Wages and benefits make up much of their costs, so are a tempting target for cuts.

Referring to the B.C. budget expected on March 2, Mr. Green said, “It would certainly be good to see more money put into the system – let me tell you that.”

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, speaking on the possibility of layoffs in Vancouver, acknowledged the tough situation.

“We recognize these are challenging times for every level of government, including boards of education. However, boards must still manage within their budgets,” she said in a statement.

She noted that enrolment in Vancouver has dropped 5 per cent since 2000-01, while operating funding has increased nearly 24 per cent or $84-million.

“Our government continues to make significant investments in Kindergarten to Grade 12 education in Vancouver,” the statement from the minister said.

The NDP Education critic said the declarations from Vancouver and Prince George indicate problems that the provincial government must address.

“We're hearing numerous school districts [have] serious problems,” said Robin Austin.

The Vancouver board is forecasting an operating budget shortfall of between $17.5-million and $36.3-million for 2010, depending on funding decisions by the province.

Today it's teachers, but Ms. Bacchus said cost-cutting could affect other staff.

“If this unfolds as we fear it might, we'll be looking at other aspects of the organization,” she said.

Targeted teachers in Vancouver began receiving letters yesterday, in line with their collective agreement, which asks them to provide a written update of their qualifications to help the board proceed if there are layoffs. There are about 3,500 full-time-equivalent teaching positions, which adds up to about 4,000 individuals, in the Vancouver system.

If teachers are laid off, notices will be issued in the first week of May. The last teacher layoffs were in May, 2004.

“It's absolutely awful,” Ms. Bacchus said of the situation and its likely impact on the morale of teachers. “It's something we really regret. We know this causes stress for a lot of people.”

Chris Harris, co-president of the Vancouver Teachers' Federation – a division of the B.C. Teachers' Federation – said the news is “devastating” for members even though there had been warnings.

“That's very different from receiving a piece of paper in your hand,” he said.

Mr. Harris said the union has its staff reps at schools making it clear that the federation will try to look out for their rights, but that one focus will be to advocate for enhanced funding from the province.