Brunt of teacher cuts in eastern P.E.I., says parent

A member of the Home and School Association at Montague Consolidated is wondering why her school and others in her area appear to be taking so many teacher cuts.

Shauna Mellish learned Wednesday evening Montague Consolidated is losing 3.46 of the 32 teaching positions being cut across the province. She said the cut is coming despite relatively steady student enrolment at the school.

"I didn't understand why they were continuing to cut the teaching positions," said Mellish.

"From our school alone we are losing just over 10 per cent of the teacher cuts."

Mellish said the picture grows worse as she looks at surrounding communities, with cuts at Cardigan, Georgetown and the intermediate and high schools in Montague. She estimates about a third of the teacher cuts have landed on schools that feed into Montague Regional High.

Mellish said with the cuts she expects average class size at Montague Consolidated will be between 27 and 30 students.

Mellish has asked to meet with English Language School Board officials for an explanation, but she has not yet received a response.