Shrinking dollars for schools combined with shrinking enrollment numbers have led to cuts in many areas of the district’s budget.
Over the years the elementary school secretary’s hours have been cut as well.
The latest cut came two years ago when they went down by five hours to 25 hours per week.
At the time West Boundary Elementary School (WBES) opted to take $5,000 annually from their school budget to keep the position at 30 hours. But that money has run dry and this school’s secretary is now working 25 hours per week as well.
The WBES PAC chair, Jodi Klein, sees this is a “huge safety issue.” She says the secretary is the “rock of the school”, with her finger on the pulse of everything happening on any given day.
Last week Superintendent Michael Strukoff referred to the job as a clerical position, saying that rural primary schools of similar size each get 25 hours of clerical time per week.
Similarity is not the same as being equal, however.
The Christina Lake secretary has one school and one Strong Start Centre to look after; while the two secretaries in the west end must each cover two schools and two Strong Start Centres.
Recognizing that rural schools have extra costs, a special funding formula is used by the province to provide additional funding. But then these dollars are put into the general pot and used by the entire district. It is long past time for the board to revisit this practice.
More immediately the board needs to recognize the secretary as a key member of the school team who provides support for the principal, teachers and parents.
The board must take a second look at the number of hours provided in the west end – especially as there will only be one principal covering all four primary schools next year.