Several hot button issues came to the forefront at the School District 27’s regular meeting Tuesday evening.
Merit pay
The board took a stand against the concept of merit pay for teachers.
The debate was ignited recently by B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Kevin Falcon who said he would introduce merit pay for teachers if he becomes the province’s next premier.
Trustee Patti Baker, who made the resolution opposing such policies, said the concept of merit pay is insulting and demeaning to all teachers. “We have a highly qualified staff in this district.” Trustee Richard Elliott said merit pay had been tried in the Chicago school district and had failed miserably.
Vice-chair Bruce Mack said the province might want to start with merit pay for MLAs, and board chair Wayne Rodier said the issue is getting far more attention than it deserves.
Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers’ Association president Erb said she was pleased with the trustees’ response to the idea of merit pay.
“I was very pleased with their commitment to teachers and the jobs they already do.”
Ten-year plan
In other discussions at the end of the meeting, district parent advisory council president Brian Hamm and a parent in the audience asked when they could expect to see the 10-year plan the trustees are working on.
The plan was on the December meeting agenda, but that meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
The 10-year plan was a note on this agenda, but Rodier explained the idea of a 10-year plan had become a long and very complex process, which would take more time to develop.
There is an undercurrent of fear among teachers and parents that the proposed closure of some elementary schools and closure or restructuring of the two secondary schools in Williams Lake, which were dropped after extensive public consultation last year, will be back on the table in the 10-year plan.
However, Erb noted the uncertainty about what schools might be closed and possible reconfiguration of the secondary schools is part of the reason Williams Lake Secondary School is struggling to maintain enrolment.
“We can’t even get a plan for a year. How are we going to get a plan for 10 years?”