Class is back in session tomorrow (Tuesday, September 5) and teachers in School District No. 57 have been busy getting ready to welcome students back.
“Teachers been working hard last week to have things in the classrooms ready. People are excited to welcome new students. Enrolment is up in Prince George and I hope that our classes will be fully staffed,” Prince George District Teachers' Association (PGDTA) President Daryl Beauregard said. “That's been a big challenge over the last, I guess, six years now.”
He said that is one of the biggest concerns because when classes aren’t fully staffed, specialist teachers supporting vulnerable students are pulled from their duties and those services aren't available for students in need.
“A big hope for us this year, that we might see a beginning of a turnaround of the teacher shortage.”
However, Beauregard added that the PGDTA won’t have final staffing numbers for a couple of weeks because students are still enrolling and the district is still building divisions as the school year begins.
“Everything is in flux for the first couple of weeks.”
Beauregard noted that some of the more concerning items on the PGDTA’s radar have not gone away over the summer and that includes growing movements taking place across the country that impact the rights for students who are LGBTQ+.
“My members in this union are very much committed to continue in providing a safe, welcoming place for everyone and I hope that some of the more concerning aspects that are in our communities don't impact the public-school service that we provide,” said Beauregard.
“This is something that that is a very core value to public education, and to my union. So, we'll be continuing to push governance, to make sure those rights are secured.”
Beauregard added that it has been a difficult summer for a lot of people in the community citing wildfires, smoke and economic uncertainty.
“And that applies to the families of our students and some of our members so let's start the school year inviting them all in a welcoming space,” he said.
“Folks who need support, we're going to be there to give that support. One thing that we should all be able to count on is a public school system that is there for people when they need it and that's something we're committed to.”
