The Battle River School Division is expected to axe about 76 school positions, including an estimated 38 full-time equivalent teaching positions next school year.
Three teachers from Bashaw School, about 80 km northeast of Red Deer, have received their pink slips.
The Grades 4, 5 and 6 students, however, did not take the loss of some of their teachers lightly. On Friday morning, some put their books down and walked out of their classrooms.
They waved signs, played musical instruments and chanted, “We want music. Don’t cut our teachers.”
The kindergarten to Grade 12 school has been forced to cut all three temporary and probationary staff — a math teacher, a Grade 2 teacher and a Grade 4 teacher and partial music position.
Battle River School Division superintendent Larry Payne said next year there will be cuts in staffing in every department in most schools in the division. He blames dwindling enrolment and reduced funding from Alberta Education.
Payne said the division is at the point where using reserves will not cover the funding shortages. The district projects a 3.32 per cent decline in enrolment for the next school year.
While Payne would not put a specific about how many people are losing their jobs, the district’s website is clear, saying: “We anticipate a reduction of about 38 full-time equivalent teaching positions and likely an equivalent number of school support staff reductions.”
At Bashaw School, there are 245 students and 14 teachers on the staff this year.
Some parents feared the lost of a music position would signal the end of the music and arts program at the school. Principal Neal Isnor said actually the school hopes to add more fine arts to the school. In fact, next year a new music theatre program is in the works. And on Thursday, the school was given the go-ahead to hire a Grade 2 teacher.
“Their hearts are really in the right place,” said Isnor, about the student protest. “These are outstanding young teachers we had. The kids just really enjoyed them. They realized they had really good teachers and they don’t want to lose them.”
Kirsten Nugent’s Grade 4 son was one of the young voices chanting outside his school. “I think it’s great when kids find their voices,” said Nugent. “His Grade 4 teacher is one of the teachers who doesn’t have a job next year. He came home and said he hoped it helped his teachers.”
Nugent, who also has a daughter in Grade 2, added teachers are a vital part of the community. She is concerned about future layoffs.
“It’s a sad day when we begin losing teachers,” she said.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com