Langley teachers hold overnight vigil for special needs student resources

About 20 teachers and supporters lit 3,000 candles and spent Tuesday night outside the Langley School Board office as part of a protest to draw attention to the needs of students with special needs.

Special needs teacher Gail Chaddock-Costello said they believe limited funds and huge caseloads are hurting the education of those with special needs.

She and her colleagues have been pressing the board to do something to resolve the situation with little response, and the candlelight vigil was meant to convince the board to meet with them, she said.

"We decided we needed to do some very peaceful demonstrative actions that involve all of the partners, all of the stakeholders that are involved with special needs children," Chaddock-Costello told CBC reporter Jeremy Nuttal on Tuesday evening.

Parent Bev Funk, who also participated, said she and her hearing impaired son were feeling the effects of the resource crunch.

The Grade 6 student will have to say goodbye to friends next year and attend a high school because, Funk said, it is the only school where he can get the help he needs.

"Basically his Grade 7 year will be him, alone, in a resource room because you can't integrate a Grade 7 student into a Grade 8 curriculum. There's no inclusive schools for him," said Funk.

Nobody from the Langley School Board was available for comment.