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Parents, teachers have hands full dealing with education cuts; little time for changes to School Act Digesting the latest changes to the education system is proving almost too much for some local parents.

Parents, teachers have hands full dealing with education cuts; little time for changes to School Act

Digesting the latest changes to the education system is proving almost too much for some local parents.

Earlier this week Christy Clark, minister of education, proposed a series of amendments to the School Act which guarantees a greater voice for parents in schools, give students the right to attend any school that has space, and gives school boards the right to engage in entrepreneurial activities.

But some parents, said Myrtle Philip Parent Advisory Council chairwoman Kris Shoup, are past absorbing any more changes because they’re struggling to understand how the government’s funding cuts are going to impact their schools.

"I think that telling them they also changed the School Act was kind of like: ‘We don’t want anymore right now. We’ve had enough to swallow. Don’t give us anymore,’" said Shoup.

Parents at Myrtle Philip have also just learned that they have lost funding for the Challenge program, which helps gifted children.

And the on-again off-again funding for the Community Grant is now definitely off.

The provincially funded grant has been cut for good as part of the cut backs by the Liberal government.

The grant was used to pay for programs like student call-back, the supervisor safety aid, the behaviour support program, the library accessibility program, which keeps the library open at lunch hour, and the field trip cost assistance program.

Many of the programs run with the grant were related to safety.

"I think the parents were pretty much in shock over what happened last night," said Shoup referring to the reactions of those who attended Tuesday night’s regular PAC meeting.

"With one hand we were telling them this is what we would like to do but on the other we were telling them there is no money and the teachers are still in job action.

"We have lost our community grant – that’s huge. So we have huge impacts."

The cuts will also mean larger class sizes, fewer teachers and teaching assistants, and neither Myrtle Philip nor the new elementary at Spring Creek will have vice-principals from now on.

Shoup believes the newly proposed changes laid out in the amended School Act will have little affect in Whistler if the bill is passed

Parents here, she said, have always had a good relationship with administrative officers in schools. The formation of a three-parent, one teacher, one principal council for each school may only strain the resources of parents.

"And to be honest with you it looks to me like it is another group where you are going to probably ask the same parents to participate," said Shoup.

"So you are asking for more from parents who are probably giving almost all that they’ve got.

"I understand the concept, but for heaven’s sake, if you are active on your PAC you’ve got an open line of communication already."

These new councils must be in place by fall if the bill passes.

The parents on the council are to be elected by their PACs. The council will develop an annual plan that includes goals and outcomes for improvement. School boards will use these plans to draw up an annual accountability contract that identifies the district’s strengths and challenges and strategies to improve performance.

The school board must consult with the school planning council on the allocation of resources, matters contained in the board’s accountability contract, and educational services and programs in the school.

As for open boundaries, Shoup said parents around here have always had the choice to move their kids to a different school if there was room.

These changes, she said, would probably get little attention right now as parents work on how to cope with financial challenges in the coming school year.

"I think probably we are going to be struggling with financial things and how we are going to deliver the necessary program, rather than even contemplating this at this time," said Shoup.

Other amendments in the bill include:

• Permitting boards to set up separate entities to engage in entrepreneurial activities such as offshore schools.

• Restoring the title of principal and vice principal to school leaders currently called administrative officers.

• Allowing the ministry to appoint special advisers to work with boards where student achievement does not improve and permitting the removal of school boards for reasons other than financial mismanagement.

• Recognizing the right of the District Parent Advisory Councils to advise school boards.

Howe Sound Teachers’ Association president Marjorie Reimer also questions what the government is doing.

"Why are we even talking about this with the humongous cuts that are coming?" asked Reimer.

"Our district is looking to balance a very difficult budget and what are we talking about; parent committees. Parents have a really important role and I would like them to try and get some of the really important fiscal issues out into the public.

"I guess I would have to say that considering all the other issues linked to education at this point this is not highly relevant."

Reimer believes that most parents have a good relationship with the schools, but she does question how well the provincial PAC has represented local parents.

What is of concern to Reimer regarding the new school planning councils is that any one who is employed by the board is not eligible to be elected to the school parent council.

"What that means is that every parent who is a CUPE employee working for a board, or every teacher, is not allowed to serve on their child’s school committee by virtue of their employment," said Reimer.

"So fewer parents will be able to be represented.

"If you mop the floors at Myrtle Philip you cannot serve on your school’s parent committee. How can that be good?"