New school staffing numbers not what some parents hoped

P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch has shared staffing numbers with school administratorsand some parent councils aren't happy with the numbers they're hearing.

All numbers are expected to be made public on the Public Schools Branch websitesoon, but parent representatives did share some numbers Tuesday with CBC News.

The parent council for KensingtonIntermediate Senior High said the school will be down 0.85, or almost one teaching position.

"When you look at cutting, where do you start?" saidPatriciaCole, president of the parent council.

Cole explained initial discussions about staffing also included further cuts in the following years and parents are worried about that too.

"It's very frustrating given we are a unique school in the fact that we have a junior high and a senior high together and there is some overlap," explained Cole.

"A lot of the electives are offered by teachers teaching both senior high and junior high."

Parent councils at Three Oaks High School in Summersideand KinkoraRegional High Schoolalso said their schools are being cut.Three Oakswill lose half a position and Kinkoraone-quarterof a position. Those schools are also worried about the long-term plans for teaching numbers.

Students rally for their school

Kensington Intermediate Senior High had hoped when the province announced new positionsit would see increases, not cutbacks.

Students walked out of school Tuesdayto protest.

Student JosieGreen spoke to the crowd at the rally, highlighting how fewer teachers could mean course variety could suffer.

"We risk losing the French immersion courses, computer based courses, multimedia,and writing, all of our trades courses," said Green.

Green also explained elective courses can help students get into post-secondary programs.

"Post-secondary options now require students to take certain courses in high school to be eligible for their programs," she said.

"They are more likely to be admitted than those who didn't take that course,"

Cole believes rural schools are being targeted.

"I would like to see status quo. The rural kids are entitled to the same educational opportunities as the urban kids," said Cole.

"It affects the whole morale of the school."

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Island students take home 8 medals at Skills Canada competition
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Guilty plea to one pesticide infraction, other charges stayed