Vancouver School Board lays off 167 teachers and staff to stave off $24-million shortfall

The Vancouver School Board has laid off 167 teachers and support staff as part of its efforts to reduce a $24-million budget shortfall.

The layoffs will lead to the termination of 37 teachers and 130 support staff, which includes social workers, special needs staff and cultural liaisons.

• Vancouver School Board facing $24M budget shortfall due to 'chronic underfunding'
• B.C. Education Minister says VSB should plan, spend more wisely

VSB chair MikeLombardisays that theteachers can still bid on other positions, but the support staff jobs will be gone unless more funds come in from the Minister of Education.

"If we are successful in getting additional funding from the Minister of Education, then this decisioncan be rescinded and we can keep the positions in place," Lombardisaid.

He admitted the cuts were made reluctantly.

"These cuts will bedevastatingfor the Vancouverschool system," he said.

But in a written statement,B.C. Education Minister MikeBernierseemed unlikely to provide the school board with anyadditional funding.

"We can't provide extra funds to one district at the expense of all the others," he said.

Two weeks ago, the VSBvoted against a controversial proposed budget that includedcuts to programs, servicesand staff.

The vote puts the future of the board in question, as the province requires a balanced budget and could call forthe board's dismissal if it doesn't do so by June 30.

The Vancouver School Board and the Minister of Education are in talks to try to balance the budget.

With files from Angela Sterritt.