From David Sykes, President of District 30 OSSTF/FEESO – Provincial

Schools Authority Teachers (PSAT)

March 3, 2016 — Concerns have been raised about consultations currently underway by the Ministry of Education regarding declining enrolment at some of the schools operated by the Provincial Schools Branch. These are schools where teachers represented by OSSTF/FEESO District 30, PSAT, work hard every day to ensure success for students who are Deaf, blind, deafblind, or have severe learning disabilities. PSAT members are highly-specialized and experienced in serving the specific needs of this population, and are justifiably concerned about any process that may impact the learning environment of their students.

OSSTF/FEESO is closely monitoring these consultations to ensure that they are open and transparent, and that all key stakeholders are given sufficient opportunity to be heard.

It is essential, during this process, that no one loses sight of the crucial and unique role these schools play in preparing students to be fully and successfully engaged in their communities. The best interests of those students, and not the government’s agenda of fiscal austerity, must be the basis of any decisions arising from these consultations.