School District 57’s board of education met for the first time since spring break Tuesday night with several items on the agenda.
Tina Cousins , President of the PG Teacher’s Association gave an update on the negotiating progress between the BCTF and provincial government.
She says class size and composition need to be kept on the bargaining table, as that is the basis for their working conditions.
She says areas were support is needed most is specialist teachers for learning assistance, as well as ESL and librarians.
Negotiations between the BCTF and the province have already had an effect on teachers.
Richard Giroday, First Vice President of the Prince George Teacher’s Association says the actual cost of the negotiations have forced the role of “professional development coordinator ” to be cut.
He also spoke to the board, focusing on the affect the position has on enhancing student learning.
To prove his point, Giroday brought eight packs of unopened printer paper (pictured), representing the four-thousand emails PG’s coordinator has to work through.
He says one of the main roles the coordinator has is to bring in teachers from rural areas for professional development courses.