School District 43 trustees learned they will be making some tough calls to pare back an anticipated $13.4 million shortfall for next year's budget after hearing pleas from youth workers, substitute teachers, librarian assistants and gifted students to save their programs and jobs.
On Tuesday, several groups presented, and on Thursday, several other delegations were expected to present (after The News print deadline) to SD43 trustees.
Youth workers, who suffered job losses during last year's budget deliberations, said their work is increasingly important as more students are diagnosed with anxiety and other mental health disorders even at kindergarten age. They talked about helping students with a difficult home life to graduate from school by providing them with two to three or more hours of counseling plus other support.
"In a goodbye letter, Cindy told her youth worker that they were like the mother she desperately needed. We have good endings like this all the time because of the support students are getting in their schools. Please do not remove youth workers, our kids need us," said Erin Watkins.
Penny Hook, a library assistant, said hours were reduced significantly last year and further cuts this year will make it difficult to operate school libraries. "Libraries are threatened and will be increasingly under utilized," Hook said, noting that this is a time when school libraries are needed even more because of newly-mandated provincial education goals.
Teachers who fill in for educators on sick leave, for pro-d or other relief said they can not support themselves with substitute teaching and students from a gifted program at Hillcrest middle, meanwhile, told trustees that their school enables them to thrive.
A mentorship program for new teachers and teachers on call was also defended as a program that offers support, collaboration and stability for educators who don't have full-time contracts and have to take on multiple posts through the year.
