More front-line supports for Island schools

To further support student and staff well-being and the continued health and safety of our school communities, 55 new front-line positions are being added immediately to schools across the province.

The new positions include additional teachers, educational assistants, bus drivers, school counsellors and autism consultants. Schools identified the need for these additional resources through the Public Schools Branch (PSB) and Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF). 

“Our back to school plans have allowed our Island school communities to return to school safely but we are seeing that COVID-19 has caused increased stress and anxiety. We need to ensure that students can not only learn but thrive and that their mental health and wellbeing is a priority. We will continue to work with our schools to identify their needs and build strong, healthy, supportive school communities.”

- Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Brad Trivers

Media contact:
April Gallant
Department of Education and Lifelong Learning
902-368-6449
aldgallant@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

• Teachers (1.5 FTE) – To support cohorting and assist children with special needs. In total, 74.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers have been in the 2020-2021 school year. 
• Educational Assistants (23.5 FTE) – Positions will support the specialized needs of students and allow more individualized supports for students. In total, 49 FTE educational assistants have been added in the 2020-2021 school year.
• Counsellors (13 FTE) – Positions will help support the mental health and well-being of students. This is in addition to 1.2 FTE counselling consultants added in the 2020-2021 school year.
• Autism Consultants (3 FTE) – Positions will reduce the caseload of the current complement of 7.0 FTE Autism Consultants across the PSB. 
• Autism Programming Support Assistant (1 FTE) – A dedicated staff position to support the development of specialize programming support and materials such as visual schedules, social stories, functional life skills and transition supports. 
• Bus drivers (13 FTE) – Positions will help reduce ridership and transfers and will minimize the number of multiple runs required by buses due to staggered drop offs and pick ups and address bussing delays. In total, 16 FTE bus drivers have been added in the 2020-2021 school year.