Public schools across the Tri-Cities are in a state of high anxiety awaiting the fallout from $12 million in cuts next year, says the president of the Coquitlam Principal and Vice-Principals' Association.
Concerns about support for vulnerable students, gutting of service and supply budgets, and the loss of jobs is causing emotional turmoil, Rob Foot said, and administrators are still coming to grips with the size of the district's deficit.
"We, too, were very surprised by the numbers when the district came out with them last week," he told The Tri-City News.
Foot said schools are in a state of high anxiety as teachers, clerical staff and support workers wait to find out whether their jobs are affected, and he said the sooner everyone knows what's happening, the better so schools can plan.
EXTRA WORK, GRIEF
"They are wondering whether they'll have a job next year Yet they go in front of kids every day and they do a fantastic job. But it's taking its toll." the Scott Creek middle school principal said.
Foot also expressed concerns about support for vulnerable students, saying, "We need to find a way to continue that support." And he noted that schools are still reeling from having to hand back more than $1 million to the district in supply and service budgets to help the district pare down its current deficit.
"It caused a significant amount of extra work and grief in purchases canceled and projects stopped."
