It rained last night - for the first time in ages. Today feels sad and foreboding. Or maybe that's me as the kids keep coming up with things I need to pay for now that school is starting. It feels so weird. They've missed 27 days of school. A whole month. And now B needs a new wardrobe, C needs a bike, A and B's phones are dying. Whimper. And the job search that I have been postponing (read: avoiding) is back on.
We're hearing the interpretations of the agreement from all sides. Tomorrow is the big vote. If it passes, the kids are back in school on Monday. It needs 50% plus 1 (I guess that's not 51%??) to pass. There are concerns, but I'm sure it will pass. The government took E80 off the table, $108 million toward grievances (which may be used as a signing bonus), $480 million to hire new teachers, $400 for the BCTF (teachers) and $80 for support staff. A raise in line with other public sectors (ie. minimal). It's a 6-year contract - so just as C hits Grade 12...oh great.
I wonder how much $80 million gets you in support staff. If they start at $50K? 60 school districts, so just over $1 million each (which is if it's divided evenly - which is ridiculous but makes the math easier). Coquitlam alone has 70 schools. Huh. That's potentially 20 support staff (assuming that each one makes $50K - which is ridiculous, but makes the math easier). Hmmm...who is included as "support staff" I wonder?
Aha. According to the BC Education website, support staff include: trades (carpenters, gardeners, plumbers, electricians, etc.), computing and IT support (for admin), accounting and payroll, clerical, special ed, teacher assistants, and noon-hour supervision. Hmmm... so not all the money is going to end up in the classroom. Interesting.
I wonder where counsellors, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, etc. come in. I don't see them on the list of support workers and I know first-hand they're in short supply.
Notes are coming from schools fast and furious now. I took the boys to the dentist - no school missed. and no cavities, thank God, but braces in C's future. Guess I'd best get on that job search soon...
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