The proposed 2025/2026 budget for Okanagan – Skaha School District 67 will mean cuts to service depended on by students and does not address the chronic shortage of crucial support staff. This is the message CUPE 523, the union representing SD67 school support workers, to school trustees preparing to vote on the budget.
“If approved, this budget will mean cuts to clerical and custodial staff in our schools. Make no mistake, any cut to support services will affect students and their families,” says Terri Phillips, a school support worker and unit chair for CUPE 523 members in SD67. “Clerical staff are the backbones of our schools that keep students and other staff supported every day. And custodians make sure our schools are clean and healthy places to learn.”
The proposed 2025/2026 budget for Okanagan – Skaha School District 67 also neglects a shortage of education assistants in the district.
“There has been an average of 20 vacant education assistant positions since last June. This has meant a shortage of support in classrooms for students that need it the most,” said Tammy Carter, president of CUPE 523, who represent over 1,000 school support workers in three school districts across the Okanagan. “District 67 has no plan for attracting new EAs to our communities, and with most EAs only getting 5-hour workdays, it’s not hard to see why many can’t make a living as EAs.”
CUPE 523 says while its members are facing job uncertainty and increasing workloads, SD67 has hired more senior administrators over the past 2 years. The union says these resources would be better used to preventing cuts and bolstering services that directly benefit Okanagan students and families.
“We understand the financial challenges facing School District 67, “says Carter. “But we hope school trustees will consider the short-term and long-term effects these cuts will have on students, families and staff, when deciding their budget priorities.”
