51 public high school teachers in Grey Bruce have received layoff notices.
The Bluewater public school board issued the layoff notices on Monday and Chair Marg Gaviller blames declining enrolment.
She tells Bayshore Broadcasting News they are expecting to lose 427 full time students at their 11 high schools next year.
Gaviller admits the reductions are “overly cautious.”
Gaviller says they may be able to call back some teachers next year if more high school students enrol or if other teachers retire.
The layoffs are based on seniority.
Gaviller adds the layoffs have nothing to do with the current budget cuts for next year.
Gaviller says she is very concerned about declining enrolment because it’s directly related to how much provincial funding the Bluewater board will receive.
But Gaviller warns the situation is not going to change anytime soon.
She notes the number of elementary students has started to level off but it will be eight years before many of them reach high school.
