Annapolis Valley to cut 27 teaching jobs

The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board will lose27 teaching positions and more than a dozen jobs at its regional office in Berwick as the result of provincial funding cuts.

But, Superintendent Margo Tait saidshe doesn't think any teachers will actually be laid off.

"Hopefully, we are going to achieve all of this through attrition retirements and resignations," she said.

This year the provinceordered school boards to trim their budgets by an average of two per cent.The Education Department also specifically wanted to see the number of consultants reduced.

Tait said the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board cut seven administrative positions and eliminated eight consultants who provided resources for programs such as reading recovery, French and fine arts, Tait said.The teaching positions will be cut based on each school's enrollment, she said.

There are 300 fewer students across the Annapolis Valley school system,Tait said, and individual schools will soonlearn if theywill lose staff.

Tait said 85 per cent of the board's budget is spent on wages and benefits, so staffing decisions had to come first. But she said a bit more budget trimming will take place next month.

The school board oversees 43 schoolswith more than 14,000 students and973 full-time teachers and 800 supporting staff.