VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A massive budget shortfall at the Vancouver School Board could mean major changes to your child's classroom in the upcoming school year. Close to 800 Vancouver teachers have received letters notifying them of possible lay-offs.
The Board won't get its budget allocation from the province until March
and notices will go out soon after. The budget shortfall could be up
to $36 million.
The letters, which are not official lay-off notices, ask teachers to update their qualifications with the district. David Weir with the Vancouver School Board says once profiles are up to date they can decide how many teachers--if any--will be let go. Weir adds it's been a while since they have been in a position like this. "We haven't had to do any teacher lay-offs since May 2004. With the size of the shortfall this year, it is quite possibly that lay-offs will be part of the solution."
VSB Chair Patti Bacchus says things like salary and pension plan increases and a lack of government funding have forced the board to send out the notices. Bacchus says the looming cuts will have a huge impact on not only parents and students, but teachers as well. "We have to ensure that teachers that could potentially be affected by those, have an opportunity to update their qualifications on file, if they've done additional course work, be sure we're aware of that."
Langley school trustees will vote tonight to begin the process of possibly closing two schools, as a way to save millions of dollars.