Changes breed controversy at the School District

"The school district management team is out of touch in regards to the support students in our community need to succeed in school and beyond," Joanna Larson, President of PRDTU

A number of moves announced by School District 52 this week have the local union, community groups and individuals concerned about the direction of the School District, when it comes to implementing its new blueprint for education.

The most pressing issue for the Prince Rupert District Teachers Union is the plan for layoffs stemming from the consolidation of two east side schools for next year, what has the PRDTU particularly upset is that while their members will bear the brunt of the number crunch, the school district has actually created more management positions in order to guide its revised programs into the next school year.

Another concern of the teachers union is that while needs of special educations students will increase in the next year, nothing has been done to improve the actual staffing situation in the district's special needs classrooms.

That was a theme picked up by the region's MLA, Gary Coons who pointed to a recent vulnerability study conducted that showed Prince Rupert rating high in vulnerability for students when compared to other regions of the province.

All of the details of the pending administrative changes as well as the reaction from stakeholders can be found in the front page story of the Wednesday edition of the Daily News...

TEACHERS SLAM 'TOP-HEAVY' SCHOOL DISTRICT AFTER CHANGES

Additional principal jobs are created despite the closure of local schools
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Pages one and three

School District 52 recently announced the next series of changes that will be made to the education system in Prince Rupert, changes that have several stakeholders shaking their heads in disbelief.

As part of the educational revamping, the Kaien Island Alternate Program will be moved from the Friendship House and two additional administrative positions will be created, a move district staff says acknowledges the need for succession planning because competition for qualified administrators and teachers has been problematic for most districts in the province.

"This is a lengthy, multi-year process with the ultimate goal of delivering the best education we can to students," said Eric Mercer, superintendent of schools.

"In recognition of that, we need to ensure the right resources are in place to support student needs while we make this vital transformation. Any organization's strength is in its people, and we need to ensure we keep the dedicated professionals we have as well as attract new ones to our community. If we don't do this, we cannot give kids access to the opportunities they deserve."

For the coming 2008-09 school year, Steve Riley, currently at Roosevelt, will be the new principal of the relocated Kaien Island Alternate program. Current Seal Cove Principal Susan Kobza will take over as principal of Roosevelt Park along with a new vice principal: Sandy Pond. Marcy Van Koughnett will be principal of Conrad with Judy Zacharias as vice principal, and Shelley Parks will remain principal at Lax Kxeen with Kathy Dann as vice principal. Darrell Wright will continue as principal of Pineridge, and Deb Taylor will assume the role as principal of Port Edward.

Things will remain unchanged at Charles Hays and Prince Rupert secondary schools, with all principals and vice principals staying in their current roles.

Leah Robinson will become the new District Principal for Achievement, joining District Principal of Special Education Linda Hikida and District Principal of Aboriginal Education Debbie Leighton-Stephens.

Prince Rupert District Teacher's Union President Joanna Larson is furious that while teachers and support staff will suffer numerous lay-offs, more administrative positions have been created and nothing has been done to address the surplus of special needs students in classrooms.
"The school district management team is out of touch in regards to the support students in our community need to succeed in school and beyond," said Larson.

"Teachers need the number of special needs students in their classrooms reduced so that they can adequately meet the needs of these students and their peers in the classroom. Increasing an already top-heavy system is not how we will improve student success and opportunities in our district."

Larson points to Bill 33 legislation stating there should be no more than three special needs students per class, but says the district management team is planning on approximately five such students in each classroom this coming school year.

"Together with the recent recommendation to close Seal Cove Elementary School, which is located in one the most vulnerable regions in the province, this shows a complete lack of intent when it comes to addressing the needs of our city's most vulnerable students," said Larson.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons shares Larson's concerns about the recently announced changes, and says buzz words such as "educational renewal," "transformation" and "re-engineering" don't have anything behind them in terms of what's needed in Prince Rupert classrooms - support for students who really need it.

"Any increase in administration will not help morale in a district that holds the distinction of EDI scores that show over 48 per cent of our children are not ready to enter kindergarten," said Coons. "And our student vulnerability has increased since 2003. The cutting of any frontline workers, be they child care workers, school aides, secretaries or teachers, will not be to the benefit of supporting that child who really needs help in their classroom. Especially since our district has the third-highest level of vulnerability in the province."

District senior staff say that the changes recognize the resources required to meet the province's expanded mandate for schools, and the administrative staff changes will be reviewed once the senior administration recommendations are complete. Other than the cost of changing the alternate program, the district says costs to fund changes are negligible and will come from the district's operating budget and not from the saving that resulted from school closures. The school district is also working to present more information on the transition of students and staff from the soon-to-close Kanata and Seal Cove schools later this month, including information on busing options in the newly drawn catchment areas.