Abbotsford – In response to the recent $50 million interim funding agreement between the Province of BC, the BCTF and BCPSEA, the Abbotsford School District is working collaboratively with the Abbotsford Districts’ Teachers Association (ADTA) to carefully plan for the hiring of new teachers within the District. Abbotsford’s share of this funding is $1.7 million, which will allow the District to hire up to 40 new teachers for the remaining 2016-2017 school year.
“We anticipated the agreement reached between the Province, BCTF, and BCPSEA,” noted Shirley Wilson, Chair for the Abbotsford Board of Education. “This funding will allow us to hire additional educators for our District and ensure that our students continue to receive an innovative and world class education.”
In preparation for the recruitment of new teachers, the District and the ADTA will review how to best allocate these additional teaching positions.
“We will be adding up to 40 new teaching positions to our schools within a very short time frame. It is our responsibility to ensure that we place these additional positions effectively so as to enhance the learning environments in our classrooms,” stated Kevin Godden, Superintendent of Schools. “Our staff is committed to working diligently in the days ahead to carefully deploy these teachers to provide maximum benefit to students.”
“The addition of these long awaited teaching positions will greatly benefit working and learning conditions in our Abbotsford schools,” stated Doug Smuland, president of the ADTA. “Teachers are very pleased to see these increased supports.”
The Abbotsford School District will continue to work with the ADTA on a collective allocation process that harmonizes District priorities and student learning.
