They'll be cut from every level and department and no area will be exempt. That was the conclusion of Superintendent Tom Grant as he laid out a broad plan to axe a $12 million deficit next year by cutting staff.
The news - 142 positions cut, including 81 teachers, 19 youth and support workers, 32 clerical, IT and custodian positions and 10 managers and administrators - was bad but expected as people packed Winslow Centre in Couitlam Tuesday night.
School District 43's Grant called the cuts "massive," equating to six per cent of district staff and Board of Education chair Melissa Hyndes apologized for the mistakes and miscalculations that led to the deficit.
Some of the cuts may be offset by about 80 to 90 retirements, and the replacement of senior staff with younger teachers may reduce the impact.
But over all the cuts will be felt througout the district, Hyndes, Grant and many of the dozens of teachers who showed up agreed.
More later.
