Wellington Catholic to issue layoff notices to 29 staff

GUELPH - The Wellington Catholic District School Board is forecasting 22 teacher and seven support staff layoffs come September.

“It is our sincere hope that we will be in a position to recall most, if not all, employees,” Wellington Catholic director of education Tamara Nugent wrote in an email to the Advertiser.

“Our on-going commitment is to minimize the impact to our students and staff.”

Nugent said that the board is expecting full funding details from the government by the end of April.

“However, it is clear that there are funding reductions in a number of areas and further funding reductions pending,” she said.

She noted layoff notices will be issued to “staff in certain employee groups in accordance with collective agreement obligations and timelines.

“This number may be reduced through continued attrition as employees resign or retire from the board.”

Last week the Upper Grand District School Board announced that it issued 54 layoff notices to elementary teachers with the lowest seniority throughout the board.

Spokesperson Heather Loney said the board hopes that some, if not most, of the laid off teachers can be recalled.