The worst has happened with layoffs involving teachers with the Near North District School Board.
Glen Hodgson, the OSSTF President of District 4 for the Near North board, says of the 120 high school teachers who were given redundancy notices in mid-April, only 37 are being recalled meaning 83 are laid off.
“I can’t say that’s I’m surprised, and shocked is a better word,” Hodgson said.
“We were warning the people of the implications of the government’s cuts to education and what it was going to mean to the students, community and teachers. We’ve said this was a possible outcome for months.”
Hodgson says declining enrolment is a factor every year for all boards but a drop in student numbers does not account for the layoff number for being as high as it is.
Hodgson was notified about the recall and layoff numbers on Wednesday.
He says Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli has to be held accountable for the layoffs.
“He (Fedeli) made a commitment that no frontline workers would lose their jobs and you see today that a significant number of workers are losing their jobs,” Hodgson said.
“Mr. Fedeli owes an explanation to the community, schools and parents on why so many (teachers) are being laid off when supposedly he suggested there would be no job losses.”
Hodgson isn’t letting Near North board chairman Jay Aspin off the hook either.
Hodgson says at the time Aspin supported and reiterated Fedeli’s comments.
The high school teachers’ president says the lost jobs aren’t the only thing taking a hit in the education sector.
He says with 83 teachers being let go, there will be an impact on the program options available to the schools and he expects some will be cut.
“This is going to be hard on the community he said.
Hodgson says he’s not accepting the layoffs and adds “nothing is a done deal until September”.
“We’re going to keep advocating and push back against the government and against these cuts and ask the government to reinvest in education,” he said.
Hodgson is hopeful students and parents join the fight with teachers.
As for Fedeli and Aspin, Hodgson says any time they want to talk to him about how to get the affected teachers back in the classroom, he’s only a phone call away.
On the elementary side, Rob Hammond, the ETFO President, has a preliminary list of the Near North teachers affected by layoffs.
Hammond says “at least 25 will not have a job.”
However, Hammond cautions this is very preliminary at this point and he will have a clearer picture after June 10th.
Earlier in May, Hammond said 62 elementary teachers had been given their pink slips.
That number will now be reduced after some recalls notices went out.
My North Bay Now.com asked the Near North board to comment on the layoff numbers but had not received a response prior to this posting.
