Of “never-vu”: the school turnover to denounce the cuts in education

“It’s been 25 years that I have been director, I have never seen that.” André Bernier. Nevertheless, director of the primary school of the Bourg-Royal-et-du-Châtelet, in Quebec, is categorical: the compressions experienced during the austerity period of the previous liberal government were “cosmetics” compared to the “historic cuts” currently imposed on the school network, he says.

“It was cosmetics, the cuts we had to make. Therefore, We got there very well. Therefore, ”

“There. For example, there is not midnight less, it is midnight and five,” he adds to illustrate how difficult the order is and the room for maneuver reduced at the end of the school year.

Mr. Therefore, Bernier. For example, who is also vice-president of the Quebec School Management Staff Association (AQPDE), recently sent a letter to the parents of his school to inform them of the situation “never-vu”: school turnover denounce cuts and request their support.

The same letter has also been sent to all the parents of the establishments of the first school service center. where Mr. Bernier is the local representative within the AQPDE.

It is a completely unusual initiative for a school management, he admits.

“I wanted the parents to know that we do not agree with that. that these are cuts that will directly impact the service to the student,” he said.

Reduced services

In its primary school, the budgetary effort claimed by Quebec results in a decrease of $ 87,000.

To swing the columns of figures, Mr. Bernier had to resolve to reduce the services in orthopedagogy. specialized education as well as to reduce other activities (see details lower).

Liberations for teachers who worked as a team in order to implement more effective strategies to make their students succeed (called professional learning communities in school jargon) also “never-vu”: school turnover denounce cuts had to be abolished. deplores the director.

“For me, it was also a direct service to the student. We saw the positive impacts on success and, there, we have to put this on the ice, ”he drops.

André Bernier wishes to specify that budgetary restrictions are doing even worse in other centers of school service where. the shortfall is greater due to the ceiling imposed by Quebec in April concerning the number of employees.

In Montérégie. at the Patriotic School Service Center, the Director General Luc Lapointe also speaks of a “historic situation”. “We have never had such decisions. and moreover, so quickly,” he said in a message sent to all employees on Wednesday.

To comply with the target of the maximum number of employees set by Quebec. the service center will have to “revise almost all of the additions of positions” within its schools, said Mr. Lapointe.

In Montreal. “never-vu”: school turnover denounce cuts at the Pointe-de-l’île school service center, the equivalent of 28 new full-time positions of specialized educator has been withdrawn from the assignment list, reports the union which represents support employees.

Bourg-Royal-et-du-Châtelet primary school: services to reduced students at the start of the school year

• Reduction of orthopedagogy services
• Reduction of special education services
• Reduction of activities to move young people
• Reduction of cultural outings
• Reduction of digital training
• Abolition of professional learning communities*

*These are meetings between teachers and other staff members who allow you to adjust practices in order to make students succeed better.