Halifax board cuts more than 150 teaching positions
Posted May 10, 2012 05:35:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two school boards, including Halifax Regional, have announced major job cuts are coming next year – and they’re placing the blame squarely on the provincial government.
The Halifax Regional School Board has announced that 152 teaching positions, 21 support staff, 11 central office administrators, eight custodial, and six librarian full-time equivalent positions will all be cut next year.
That amounts to $7.6 million in savings, but additional cuts will have to come from non-staff related sources.
The board’s provincial funding was reduced by 0.9 per cent for the 2012-2013 school year, which translates to a $3.2 million reduction.
With inflationary costs of heating schools, utilities and salaries, the total shortfall is approximately $10.2 million.
“These decisions were very challenging for the board because we know the impact will be felt by students and their parents,” said board chair Irvine Carvery in a release. “Board members and staff tried to minimize the direct impact on schools but it is unavoidable when you take almost 20 million dollars out of system over two years.”
The Chignecto-Central School Board will need to find $6.5 million in savings.
That board has announced 54 teaching positions will be cut, along with 48 support staff, 20 property services and transportation staff, and three full-time non-union workers.
Minister of Education Ramona Jennex has said education funding will drop by $30 million next year, due mainly to decreasing enrollment.
Jennex estimates that in the past decade the school system served 30,000 fewer students, but it hired 300 additional teachers.
The Halifax Regional board will meet again to discuss the budget on May 30.
