Council announces more teachers

High schools outside the Halifax region are getting 57 more teachers.

The Council to Improve Classroom Conditions is funding the hires. The group, which was set up in 2017 as part of the Liberal government’s imposition of a contract on the province’s teachers, has a budget of $20 million over two years to address concerns in the system.

The cost for the 57 new high school teachers will be $5.2 million for the 2018-2019 school year.

Education Minister Zach Churchill was pleased with the announcement.

“The council has released its recommendation on further investments today,” Churchill said. “Fifty-seven new teachers that will be allocated on a needs basis. So that could be for guidance counsellors, teachers to alleviate certain pressures in the classrooms, and we’re really excited to get these folks hired for next year so they can begin their important work.”

The new positions are in addition to, and separate from, the 190 jobs the department announced on Tuesday as part of the province’s goal to institute some of the recommendations of the Students First report on inclusive education.

Churchill acknowledged there will be challenges to fill all the positions but he’s confident they will be able to do so.

“We think we’ll be able meet these targets,” he said.

“It’s going to take work. Our regional offices are going to be out recruiting and working very diligently over the summer to staff these positions.”

The new jobs follow a number of other initiatives the council continues to support, including an $8.9-million investment to maintain junior high and high school class caps, funding 40 teachers working on math and literacy in complex classrooms, funding 14 attendance support workers, and continuing the Inspiring Schools pilot project that provides grants to help students within complex classrooms with cost-sharing through the council and the Education Department. to