Strait school board chops 48 jobs

The Strait Regional School Board is cutting 48 positions, but it doesn't expect to lay off any teachers.

Thirty teacher positions are disappearing this year, along with 18 support staff jobs, such as school bus drivers and teacher assistants.

The board says the loss of jobs is necessary because of a cut in funding from the province and a decline in student enrolment.

A number of teachers are set to retire, and they won't be replaced. No other teachers are expected to lose their jobs.

Board superintendent Jack Beaton says he's trying to limit the impact of the cuts on teachers and students.

"We did a thorough review of our student services programming in schools, both the teaching and teacher assistants, and we found areas that we could reduce without undue difficulty," he said.

Most of the cuts to support staff will take effect on Aug. 1.

The news comes as the school board grapples with losing $1.5 million in funding. This is the board's share of the $13.4 million cut to the provincial education budget.