Lakehead Public Schools will have 20 fewer secondary teachers returning to school this September due to declining enrolment.
The board passed its $135.1 million budget for 2011-2012 on Tuesday night.
Trustee and budget chair George Saarinen said the board has known for some time it would be forced to lay off high school teachers because an earlier eight per cent enrolment decline at the elementary level. Those enrolment drops led to layoffs of elementary school teachers.
Now that those students are moving on to high school, the effects are being felt in the city’s secondary schools.
"This was noticed years ago with the elementary system and now that these students have reached the secondary system there have to be layoffs of secondary teachers unfortunately," Saarinen said.
Director of education Cathi Siemieniuk said the eight per cent decline will be a low point in the secondary system, but with elementary enrolment getting back on track high schools will start to see improvements over the coming years.
"We know that into the future our secondary enrollment will be stable as well. we’re going to go through a couple years of some decline," she said.
The board is doing the best it can to deal with the provincial phenomenon of declining enrollment, Siemieniuk said, and will have to continue to review its high school programs and services.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation has a good collective agreement in place to make sure those laid off are put on a recall list Siemieniuk said. Despite that, OSSTF District 6A teacher president Terry Hamilton said it’s been a tough year for his members.
Saarinen said although there were layoffs, he’s happy with the budget. The board was able to balance the books and meet the needs of its students he said.
"It is a good news budget for all students of Lakehead Public Schools,Saarinen said.
Board Superintendent of business Kathy Pozihun said no other employees, such as custodians or support staff were affected by the layoffs.
It was the last board meeting of the school year. The next meeting is scheduled for September.
