Earlier today, the Vancouver School District issued 187 layoff notices to its teaching staff.  These layoffs become effective on June 30, 2011. While not a direct result of budget cuts, these layoffs are part of an annual process as a necessary outcome of declining enrolment, returns from full and partial leaves of absence, fewer retirements than projected, teachers on recall returning to positions, increasing numbers of teachers converting from temporary status to continuing status, the return of non-teaching staff to regular teaching assignments and the provision of seniority based requirements, which enable more senior staff to accept positions held by staff with less seniority. 

The Board of Education has proposed no reduction to teacher positions in the preliminary operating budget for 2011-12, but the above factors still mean that layoffs are a necessity in order to balance the overall staffing complement.

District staff will work to place as many of these identified teachers into vacant positions as they emerge through the annual posting process. It is expected that the posting process and summer transfer opportunities will see a significant number of layoff notices rescinded as teachers are placed into job openings as they occur.

While many teachers will be recalled to positions in the coming year, this is still an especially difficult time for those individuals facing layoff.  The district continues to work with our unions to provide support and assistance to all laid off employees.

For more information about the district budget process, please consult the district website at: https://www.vsb.bc.ca/budget-2011-2012

For more information, contact: Lynda Bonvillain at 604-713-4448