Halifax school librarian, social worker positions up in the air after changes to funding - BERITAJA

There are concerns that susceptible students successful Halifax will beryllium near successful the lurch aft location assembly decided to shape retired backing for schoolhouse room support unit and to besides modulation imperishable societal worker roles into word positions.

Councillors precocious voted to ratify a caller five-year supplementary acquisition backing statement this week, pinch the costs prioritizing euphony and good arts successful schools.

But the nonaccomplishment of backing for different areas intends about 100 school librarians and 18 societal workers are facing an uncertain future.

Shelley McNeil, the president of CUPE 5047, which represents the librarians, says this determination leaves a batch up successful the air.

“I cognize [the agreement] says complete a five-year period. However, we person nary thought really that’s going to look. And again, this causes truthful overmuch accent and uncertainty for the librarians,” she said.

“Our schools correct now are not successful a position to beryllium cutting support people. If anything, other support should beryllium added to our schools pinch the measurement things are happening correct now.”

Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU), which represents the societal workers, says members are scared.

“They’re concerned, they are frustrated, and rather frankly, they were scared, because location was a level of uncertainty that now exists pinch their occupation that did not beryllium anterior to this,” NSTU president Peter Day said.

Council voted 9-4 to ratify the caller agreement.

Dartmouth-area councillor Sam Austin voted against the motion, raising concerns about what it intends for acquisition successful the municipality.

“Ultimately, these are really important resources to person successful schools and I interest that the HRM backing disconnected backing will yet mean worse outcomes successful the classrooms,” he said.

Mayor Andy Fillmore voted successful favour of ratifying the statement and says successful a connection that the extremity is to create a much “sustainable attack to supplementary acquisition funding.”

“HRM is the only municipality successful Nova Scotia that provides supplementary acquisition backing beyond mandatory provincial contributions,” he wrote.

“I judge it’s important to beryllium clear what services the provincial authorities is responsible to fund, and which services the municipal authorities is responsible to fund.”

Austin is hopeful the provincial authorities will prime up the backing but isn’t overly optimistic.

“If nary 1 successful authorities blinks, past the existent losers connected this are going to beryllium the about susceptible kids successful our community,” he said.

BERITAJA has reached retired to the province’s Department of Education for comment.

A spokesperson pinch the Halifax Regional Centre for Education says location person been a number of positions reduced and that immoderate roles will not beryllium filled owed to attrition.

“It would beryllium premature to estimate connected staffing impacts respective years successful advance,” spokesperson Lindsey Bunin wrote successful an email.

“Our attraction is connected ensuring students proceed to person the supports they request while moving collaboratively pinch our partners done the modulation period.”