Thread by @RachelNotley

Scores of Alberta teachers and educational assistants have come forward to say they’re ready and willing to help make schools safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, but lack of funding from the UCP has left them on the sidelines.

THREAD #abed #ableg #safeseptember

After promising to keep the education system intact through the pandemic, LaGrange fired more than 20,000 education workers on Mar 28, including educational assistants who were supporting students with complex needs. She promised they would be rehired - they were not.

Michelle LaFrance, is an educational assistant in Blackfalds who was working for Red Catholic Schools, the district LaGrange used to be the chair of. She was laid off in the spring as one of the more than 20,000.

"We were promised that we would be rehired for the fall. That’s simply not true. Currently, I am on the sublist. I do not have a full-time position. This is very worrisome as there is no guarantee of hours of work, benefits or anything." - LaFrance

Gillis Bell is an educational assistant who was working for Edmonton Catholic before she was one of the more than 20,000 Albertans LaGrange laid off, and hasn’t been rehired.

"I am available and willing to work this fall in an Alberta school. The UCP claiming that things will operate near normal this fall proves they clearly don’t know what they’re talking about and haven’t been in the classroom.”
- Bell

Kendra Mills is a teacher with seven years of experience in Cold Lake, but can’t find work in the Edmonton area.

"To be blunt, the school boards here don’t have any funding to hire me. I looked and looked and found nothing. I am a capable and experienced teacher who was willing to help in this very difficult time this fall."
- Mills

Tara Noseworthy, is a teacher in the Cold Lake area who put her name forward as a substitute when she couldn’t find a full-time position.

"They have done nothing to hire more teachers. There are qualified educators out there like myself that are willing to come in and help. We could help with lowering class sizes.” - Noseworthy

The NDP Official Opposition has presented the government with a detailed plan for re-opening, Safe Schools, Successful Students. The plan contains 15 recommendations to protect students, families, staff and communities.

albertandpcaucus.ca/take-action/su…