Nova Scotia Teachers Union calls for plan to ensure safety in schools

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

The Nova Scotia Teacher’s Union says it wants to see a coordinated plan to ensure students and teachers can learn and work in safe and healthy environments.

That call from the NSTU came as the standing committee on human resources on Tuesday discussed the province’s school capital plan.

Union president Peter Day says the NSTU appreciates the focus on long-term investments into school infrastructure.

But, he’s also calling for a staffing plan to accompany the new school infrastructure as it comes on line.

“As new schools are built and existing ones expanded, we need to make sure there are enough teachers and specialists to meet students’ needs,” said Day. “Buildings are important, but it’s the people inside them who make learning happen. Buildings don’t teach students – teachers do.”

Government’s school capital plan faced some criticism this past summer from the auditor general.

In a June report, Kim Adair said government did not show its work when it came to decisions around where new schools are being built, and failed to anticipate the need for new growth schools.