An agency that advocates on behalf of people with special needs is concerned cuts to special education assistants in the New Westminster school district will hurt vulnerable students.
Inclusion B.C. released a press release outlining its fears that cutting 27 special education assistants will disproportionately impact students with special needs.
"Inclusion B.C. reminds school boards that they must fulfill their responsibilities to provide all students with access to education," the release states. "These cuts cannot be made on the backs of students with special needs."
The agency's executive director, Faith Bodnar, asks what other programs were looked at when decisions were made to cut educational assistants and special education teachers.
"There is a growing risk of a slide back to the days of segregated education," she says in the release.
The board of education recently approved a series of budget cuts for next year to offset a potential $5.2 million shortfall. It still owes $2.8 million from last year and could end this year with an estimated $1.2 million deficit.
The district has laid off and cut about 60 positions in the district, including 27 special education assistants who work with special needs students.
"It is worth noting that in New Westminster, . special education assistants form the largest single number of positions slashed, with cuts to 27 SEA positions. These cuts amount to a total budget reduction of slightly over $1 million dollars, out of a total budget for the district of nearly $60 million dollars; a comparatively small savings but the impacts are profound for students with special needs," the release says.
The release also pointed out the Moore case, which successfully challenged the elimination of special education programs serving a North Vancouver student. The Supreme Court found that, despite severe financial pressures on school districts, students with special needs may not be denied access to education, which is a right of every child in British Columbia, the release says.
Board of education chair Michael Ewen said he wished the agency had contacted the board to discuss the cuts before it issued a press release.
"I always think it's unfortunate when people issue press releases without having a conversation, and I never understand the purpose of that," he said.
Ewen said the district has always spent more on special education
BY THE NUMBERS: SCHOOL BY SCHOOL
- Lord Kelvin Elementary will lose two special education assistants, going from 13 to 11.
- Ãcole Herbert Spencer Elementary will lose four special education assistants, going from 15 to 11.
- Sir Richard McBride Elementary will see an increase of five, going from three to eight special education assistants.
- Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary will lose nine special education assistants, going from 23 to 14.
- Queen Elizabeth Elementary - no change.
- John Robson Elementary - no change.
- New Westminster Secondary School will lose eight special education assistants, going from 53 to 45.
- F.W. Howay Elementary will go from five to six special education assistants, going up by one.
- Connaught Heights Elementary - no change.
- Royal City Alternate Program (RCAP) - reducing it by one special education assistants to none.
- Ãcole Glenbrook Middle School will lose eight special education assistants, going from 18 to 10.
- Queensborough Middle School - no change.
- Homelearners' Program reducing it by one special education assistant to none.
The above information was provided by Marcel Marsolais - local CUPE president
