URGENT: UPDATE ON VSB Budget cuts for September 2007

Rally at the VSB Main Office starting this Thursday, April 26th at 6:30 pm.

The VSB has presented a revised budget that includes no reductions of the deep staffing cuts outlined previously, in particular, cuts that will seriously impact schools’ ability to support students with special needs, ESL and other vulnerable students.

The VSB was able to find almost $1 million in additional funding for the coming year since last week, but the Board is recommending putting all these savings towards a rainy day fund — a stunning proposal in light of the potential to alleviate the worst of the destructive staffing cuts proposed for 2007/08. Those cuts include:

  • 3 vice principals
  • 7 supervision aides
  • one systems analyst
  • 34 Special Ed Assistants (SSWs)
  • 133 teachers (mostly non-enrolling teaches who support Libraries, ESL and Special Ed)

Please make an effort to come out to the Rally. Bring your umbrella to send a message to the VSB that it’s not just a rainy day — it’s pouring! — and that they need to stand up to support our students!

The VSB budget meeting starts inside at 7 pm so join us inside to support those who have registered to speak in an effort to convince the Board to take all possible steps to mitigate these cuts and to stand up and advocate strongly for adequate Provincial funding to stop this constant and destructive cycle of cuts!

Please pass this message on to at least one other VSB parent and encourage them to join us!

[From the SOS List]