Proposed teacher cuts anger Island parents

For Westport Village School, the proposal means a reduction from two to just one teacher for students in grades primary to grade 6.

At Islands Consolidated School, teaching staff for those same grade levels could be reduced from three to two, it means Paula Outhouse, who currently teaches grades 4, 5 and 6, will have responsibility for grade 3 students as well.

Parents and staff at the two schools turned out to a meeting Thursday where they were informed of the recommendations.

John Ivens, whose children are in grades 7 and 11, is also the husband of a teacher at ICS and says parents are enraged about the proposed cuts. “In the past we’ve always adapted,” Ivens said in an interview. “We haven’t been vocal enough. We’ve been bleeding for a long time but this latest recommendation—this is an amputation. The Tri-County School Board’s motto is ‘students first.’ If the goal is to offer quality education, then cuts like these shouldn’t be considered for a moment.”

Parents at the meeting agreed to start a letter writing campaign to both the school board and politicians, and students and staff were expected to show solidarity on Monday by wearing black.

In Digby on Saturday during the Digby-Annapolis PC nominating meeting, Islands residents seized the opportunity to inform guest speaker Environment Minister David Morse of the situation.

They told Morse that they have contended with leaky roofs and sparely equipped science labs, but reduced staffing is completely unacceptable.

Morse promised to pass the information along to his colleague, Education Minister Judy Streatch.

School board representative Donna Tidd agrees with parents that the Islands schools recommendations simply won’t work. Tidd attended the emergency meeting and promised parents that she will take their concerns to the board.

She said if the staffing status quo is to be maintained at Islands schools, it will mean cuts elsewhere. “It’s always all about juggling,” she said.