Staff reductions are coming to the Northern Lights School Division for the 2020 school year, as administrators try to balance a one million dollar budget shortfall in provincial funding.

Classroom resizing is predicted to eliminate eight-point-five teaching positions.

“I think we had in the reduction of eight-point-five teachers,” said Jason Young Director Education. “When we apply the staffing formula in our system, we have fewer kids. So, with fewer kids, it generates fewer teachers. We’re right sizing our schools, so that they have the appropriate number of staff for each school based on the students who have enrolled in the schools.”

Young predicts up to a further six positions to be reduced in the central office.

The elimination of teachers is a setback for a school division already facing difficulty in recruiting and retaining teachers.

At the start of the year the Northern Lights School Division stated there was a need for approximately 14 educators for vacancies in several northern communities.

Young says the affected positions have already been notified. The budget is expected to be approved by the Board in June.

(PHOTO: Students learning. Courtesy of The Northern Lights School Division Facebook)