School board will trim special education programs

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has approved a two-year plan that will increase overall academic staffing levels in Ottawa schools, but will also make cuts to special education programs.

The board met Monday night to discuss the redistribution of teaching positions and funding for the 2010-2011 year.

With student enrolment set to rise next year, the board has approved an increase of about 35 full-time positions at the elementary level and about six secondary positions.

However, 45 teaching positions are set to be trimmed in the next two years, most in Special Education and English as a Second Language programs.

These cuts are in response to a predicted $14-million deficit in the 2010-2011 year. The board will learn how much money it will receive from the Ontario government when the upcoming provincial budget is announced later this week.