In 2017-18, VAESP Uniserv Director Lynn Davidson raised concerns about special education staffing allocations, which were based on language in the 2016-18 contract with the Vancouver Education Association. In response to this concern, VPS and VEA agreed at the bargaining table that contract language of concern would revert to previous contract language.
The table below shows 2017-18 contract language and staffing ratios compared to 2018-19 contract language and staffing ratios. These contract changes affected 13 paraeducators at nine school sites. VPS currently has 500 paraeducator positions. None of the paraeducators impacted by these changes lost their jobs or wages.
Staff-to-student ratios were maintained. The only reduction of staffing in this program would occur if an IEP team determined that a student no longer needed one-on-one paraeducator support, or if a student moved out or graduated/aged out.
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract language | 10.23D Structured Communications Centers: These classrooms serve students who are eligible under the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder or have related disabilities with significant communication, behavior, organizational, and sensory needs. Instruction shall take place in a self-contained environment designed for safety of students and staff with opportunities for generalization of learned skills in the school and community as deemed appropriate for each individual student. Students in these classrooms shall have the opportunity to access general education experiences based on their IEP.
One (1) teacher and three (3) paraeducators for up to ten (10) students. Program paraeducators shall count as the first one-on-one paraeducators. |
10.23D Structured Communications Centers: These classrooms serve students who are eligible under the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder or have related disabilities with significant communication, behavior, organizational, and sensory needs. Instruction shall take place in a self-contained environment designed for safety of students and staff with opportunities for generalization of learned skills in the school and community as deemed appropriate for each individual student. Students in these classrooms shall have the opportunity to access general education experiences based on their IEP.
One (1) teacher and two (2) paraeducators for up to nine (9) students. |
| Certificated staffing caseload | One teacher – caseload cap of 10 | One teacher – caseload cap of 9 |
| Classified staffing/program | Three program paraeducators – program para serves as first 1:1 | Two program paraeducators |
| 1:1 paras per class | Bay SCC x 2 classes: 13 1:1’s to 19 students
Discovery SCC x 2 classes: 11 1:1’s to 16 students Marshall SCC x 3: 10 1:1’s to 28 students Hough SCC x 2: 9 1:1’s to 20 students |
Hudson’s Bay SCC x 2 classes: 15 1:1s to 20 students
Discovery SCC x 2 classes: 8 1:1s to 12 students Marshall SCC x 3 classes: 7 1:1s to 26 students Hough SCC x 4 classes: 7 1:1’s to 32 students |
| Resulting adult:student ratio | Bay SCC x 2 classes: 17:19
Discovery SCC x 2 classes: 17:16 Marshall SCC x 3 classes: 19:28 Hough SCC x 2 classes: 13:20 |
Bay SCC x 2 classes: 19:20
Discovery SCC x 2 classes: 12:12 Marshall SCC x 3 classes: 16:26 Hough SCC x 4 classes: 19:32 |
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