CBE lays off entire psychology department
Author of the article:Alanna Smith April 10,2020
Barb Silva, Support Our Students spokesperson, said the decision to lay off school psychologists is “incredibly disappointing” and further disadvantages certain students.
“I think we often fall back on the ill-conceived notion that children are resilient. The reality is children just experience or demonstrate trauma in different ways,” said Silva.
“We know that kids with strong relationships that feel engaged and heard and valued at school — whether that’s a bricks-and-mortar school or virtual school like now — do better at school, perform better, learn better.”
She said students already marginalized, due to food insecurity, developmental disabilities or socio-economic factors, will be further pushed to the peripheral.
CBE to temporarily lay off 1,900 staff amid COVID-19 reductions; Catholic board cuts 950 jobs
The exterior of the Calgary Board of Education building was photographed
on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. Gavin Young/Postmedia
The Calgary Board of Education has laid off all of its psychologists despite pledging to maintain mental health supports for students during at-home learning.
A psychologist with the public school board said the decision will have an immediate impact on students and their families, especially considering they had already transitioned to virtual sessions amid the COVID-19 pandemic
“This was a lifeline for kids and families who were struggling. It allowed kids to continue working with the therapist they already had a relationship with and to maintain that important connection during this crisis,” said the psychologist, whom Postmedia has agreed not to identify for fear of job reprisal.
He said many of the kids who were receiving mental health counselling were struggling with anxiety, depression or family stress prior to the pandemic.
“Their mental health issues are only likely to get worse as routines are disrupted, (physical) distancing persists and when there’s an increase in uncertainty and stress. Kids need access to mental health services more than ever right now,” he said.
The temporary layoffs are a result of the province’s recently announced education budget rollback.
At the end of March, the United Conservative government said it was “temporarily redirecting” $128 million from school authority funding to the province’s COVID-19 response. It’s estimated the cut will impact as many as 20,000 jobs provincewide.
“To respond to the provincial government’s mandate to redirect dollars to support the COVID-19 response, the CBE’s funding was adjusted by $21 million,” said CBE in a statement. “We prioritized dollars towards keeping positions that have the closest (connection) to students and to supporting learning from home.”
The board maintained employment for 880 educational assistants, speech-language assistants, early childhood practitioners and other positions funded by the province.
“We have many other employees who provide mental health support to families,” said the CBE, referencing school family liaisons, behavioural support workers and mental health strategists among others. The board also said community partners will continue to be resource for students.
Psychologists employed by CBE, part-time and full-time, will be laid off effective May 21 due to a six-week notice period under their collective agreement. Until then, they will continue to provide services to students.
Rae-Anne Royal, chair for the CBE Staff Association representing support workers, said she was surprised to learn psychologists and speech-language pathologists were among the layoffs.
“These roles are probably more conducive than many to providing supports electronically and by telephone,” said Royal in a statement. “The enhanced stress and challenges all are experiencing in this current environment is equally true of students, so more, rather than less, supports are needed.”
Colin Aitchison, press secretary for the minister of education, said the decision to lay off psychologists was that of the CBE’s and theirs alone.
The Calgary Board of Education has laid off all of its psychologists despite pledging to maintain mental health supports for students during at-home learning.
A psychologist with the public school board said the decision will have an immediate impact on students and their families, especially considering they had already transitioned to virtual sessions amid the COVID-19 pandemic
“This was a lifeline for kids and families who were struggling. It allowed kids to continue working with the therapist they already had a relationship with and to maintain that important connection during this crisis,” said the psychologist, whom Postmedia has agreed not to identify for fear of job reprisal.
He said many of the kids who were receiving mental health counselling were struggling with anxiety, depression or family stress prior to the pandemic.
“Their mental health issues are only likely to get worse as routines are disrupted, (physical) distancing persists and when there’s an increase in uncertainty and stress. Kids need access to mental health services more than ever right now,” he said.
The temporary layoffs are a result of the province’s recently announced education budget rollback.
At the end of March, the United Conservative government said it was “temporarily redirecting” $128 million from school authority funding to the province’s COVID-19 response. It’s estimated the cut will impact as many as 20,000 jobs provincewide.
“To respond to the provincial government’s mandate to redirect dollars to support the COVID-19 response, the CBE’s funding was adjusted by $21 million,” said CBE in a statement. “We prioritized dollars towards keeping positions that have the closest (connection) to students and to supporting learning from home.”
The board maintained employment for 880 educational assistants, speech-language assistants, early childhood practitioners and other positions funded by the province.
“We have many other employees who provide mental health support to families,” said the CBE, referencing school family liaisons, behavioural support workers and mental health strategists among others. The board also said community partners will continue to be resource for students.
Psychologists employed by CBE, part-time and full-time, will be laid off effective May 21 due to a six-week notice period under their collective agreement. Until then, they will continue to provide services to students.
Rae-Anne Royal, chair for the CBE Staff Association representing support workers, said she was surprised to learn psychologists and speech-language pathologists were among the layoffs.
“These roles are probably more conducive than many to providing supports electronically and by telephone,” said Royal in a statement. “The enhanced stress and challenges all are experiencing in this current environment is equally true of students, so more, rather than less, supports are needed.”
Colin Aitchison, press secretary for the minister of education, said the decision to lay off psychologists was that of the CBE’s and theirs alone.
THEY HAVE SAID THIS FOR THE PAST THIRTY YEARS POST 1987 CRASH
AS THEY IMPOSED AUSTERITY ON THIS PROVINCE UNDER THEIR OLD MONIKER OF RALPH KLEIN'S PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES
WE CUT YOUR FUNDS BUT STAFF CUTS ARE NOT OUR FAULT
“Adjustments due to in-person class cancellations did not require the temporary layoffs of these staff members,” said Aitchison. “Regardless, we fully expect the CBE to rescind these layoffs when in-person classes resume.”
COVID-19: Student mental health should come before academics during crisis
“Adjustments due to in-person class cancellations did not require the temporary layoffs of these staff members,” said Aitchison. “Regardless, we fully expect the CBE to rescind these layoffs when in-person classes resume.”
COVID-19: Student mental health should come before academics during crisis
Barb Silva, Support Our Students spokesperson, said the decision to lay off school psychologists is “incredibly disappointing” and further disadvantages certain students.
“I think we often fall back on the ill-conceived notion that children are resilient. The reality is children just experience or demonstrate trauma in different ways,” said Silva.
“We know that kids with strong relationships that feel engaged and heard and valued at school — whether that’s a bricks-and-mortar school or virtual school like now — do better at school, perform better, learn better.”
She said students already marginalized, due to food insecurity, developmental disabilities or socio-economic factors, will be further pushed to the peripheral.
Barb Silva, spokeswoman for Support Our Students advocacy group.
JIM WELLS/Postmedia
“We are as strong as our most marginalized student,” said Silva. “In September, everything is going to be different and, at the end of the day, this push to further marginalize our children living in the margins will undermine public education. It is setting us up for failure.”
The CBE psychologist who spoke with Postmedia said students who had already built trusting relationships with a therapist might struggle to do again with someone new — that is, if they can afford or find a new service.
“For the many families who can’t afford fee-for-service psychological services, the removal of school mental health services may force them to try to access service through the already overburdened health care system,” he said.
“Students will continue to need mental health supports to help bridge the transition back to school and we anticipate that we are going to see a wave of mental health issues that is bigger than we’ve ever seen.”
The CBE said 59 psychologists were laid off among the 1,900 people who received temporary layoffs — the largest education layoff in CBE history.
Other positions included breakfast and lunch supervisors, cleaners, library assistants, career and technology instructors, speech-language pathologists and other administrative and support staff.
“We are as strong as our most marginalized student,” said Silva. “In September, everything is going to be different and, at the end of the day, this push to further marginalize our children living in the margins will undermine public education. It is setting us up for failure.”
The CBE psychologist who spoke with Postmedia said students who had already built trusting relationships with a therapist might struggle to do again with someone new — that is, if they can afford or find a new service.
“For the many families who can’t afford fee-for-service psychological services, the removal of school mental health services may force them to try to access service through the already overburdened health care system,” he said.
“Students will continue to need mental health supports to help bridge the transition back to school and we anticipate that we are going to see a wave of mental health issues that is bigger than we’ve ever seen.”
The CBE said 59 psychologists were laid off among the 1,900 people who received temporary layoffs — the largest education layoff in CBE history.
Other positions included breakfast and lunch supervisors, cleaners, library assistants, career and technology instructors, speech-language pathologists and other administrative and support staff.
Author of the article:Jason Herring
Publishing date: April 10, 2020
Calgary’s public and Catholic school districts have temporarily eliminated jobs after the Alberta government cut education funding last month while students are out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Calgary Board of Education handed temporary layoff notices to about 1,900 part- and full-time staff Thursday. The CBE says its 2019-20 budget took a $21-million hit, after the Alberta government’s announcement it would redirect about $128 million from school authority funding to the COVID-19 response.
“Approximately 1,030 of the 1,900 affected staff are part-time breakfast and lunch supervisors,” read a statement from Christopher Usih, the CBE chief superintendent of schools.
“The other staff members include part-time cleaners, library assistants, (career and technology studies) instructors, psychologists and speech-language pathologists as well as other administrative and support staff.”
The last day of work for most affected staff will be April 30. The CBE said staff affected by layoffs can apply for federal income assistance following the notice period.
As well, contract staff like substitute teachers are not receiving layoff notices but the CBE says that “there will be limited work” for those staff through the end of the school year.
The board said it cut administrative costs before resorting to layoffs. The CBE said it was able to save some money due to the cancellation of in-class lessons and redirected funds allocated to projects that have now stalled, which it says saved about 1,000 jobs.
School-based support staff integral to supporting remote learning were the employees the CBE prioritized keeping, they said. All 880 of the board’s education assistants will keep their jobs through the end of June.
Barb Silva, spokeswoman for the Support Our Students advocacy group, said she was pleased the CBE retained education assistants given their role in helping students and teachers transition to remote learning.
“I think the CBE has done a good job with what they were dealt,” Silva said.
“We can appreciate the way they went through this in trying to save as many educational assistants as possible. I think recognizing the value of those positions in this climate is really important.”
The Calgary Catholic School District also eliminated jobs, cutting 950 part- and full-time support staff positions, with school principals notifying affected staff earlier this week.
“The Calgary Catholic School District is a family and these temporary layoffs were extremely difficult,” read a statement from the district. “We look forward to welcoming our staff back when we return to our schools.”
The CCSD has said they will rehire all support staff laid off due to budget cuts.
Alberta grade schools have not conducted in-person classes since before March 16, when the province announced all classes were cancelled amid growing fear of community spread of COVID-19.
The province has said that cuts to education funding are meant to be temporary while classes remain online.
The cuts to funding came two weeks after Education Minister Adriana LaGrange indicated Alberta school authorities would receive their full funding for the 2019-20 year.
Silva said public school boards including the CBE need to fight to ensure their funding is sustained through the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with the risk of a second or third wave of the virus coming in the fall.
“Public education is actually very susceptible right now to being undermined through this crisis,” she said. “We need the largest school board in this province to advocate.”
At the time of the budget cut, the ATA estimated around 6,000 substitute teachers and as many as 20,000 support staff in Alberta would be affected by the cuts.
The layoffs are the largest ever for the CBE.
“Each and every employee plays a valuable role in supporting our schools and students,” Usih said. “We know that those employees who received layoff notices will be missed by their colleagues, and especially by our students and families.”
The board said it would begin recalling staff once the province reinstates in-person teaching.
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