VANCOUVER - The Vancouver School Board will get a clear message from its support workers to maintain services at meetings today on the future of special education support.
Representatives of CUPE 15, whose members include approximately 1,450 support workers in School District 39, will make a presentation at meetings of the Finance & Legal Committee and the full school board. “All students deserve the right to a good public education. It is sad that parents and the workers who support these students have to fight so hard for what should be a basic right,” said Donalda Greenwell-Baker, CUPE 15 Secretary-Treasurer.
“The district, and in fact, the province as a whole, is having a difficult time attracting Special Education Assistants (SEAs). Their hours of work have already been reduced. Further cuts will only intensify an already difficult situation.”
“Our economy is booming. The B.C. government has a significant surplus. There is something wrong with this picture if district budgets are being balanced on the backs of students, families and the workers who provide special education services,” said Greenwell-Baker.
CUPE also called on Vancouver school trustees to talk to B.C. education minister Shirley Bond about funding support and allocations.
CUPE 15’s presentation is available at www.cupe15.org
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Contact:
CUPE 15 Secretary-Treasurer, Donalda Greenwell-Baker 604.879.4671