WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 18, 18, 2013NO. 51 | $1 GST | www.lakecowichangazette.com | VOL. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | VOL. 37 | 17, $1NO. + GST | +www.lakecowichangazette.com
Fishy fun at food fest: 15th Annual Salmon and Mushroom Festival this weekend at the hall PAGE 2
Fire fighters in fall: Departments around the lake busy in the community PAGES 11, 14
Retreads update: Hikers hit the trails on three creeks in the area PAGE 12
Photo Dennis Skalicky
Palsson Elementary School principal Jann Drake was on hand to welcome back students for their first day of school on Monday. This will be the last year that Jann will be able to greet the students on the beginning of a new school year as she is set to retire in December.
Back to school a welcome relief for all
Aspen Gainer
LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE
Monday marked the first day back to school after the months-long strike and lockout of B.C. teachers. “I’m pretty excited,” says Donelle Eaton, a Grade 10 student in Lake Cowichan. “I was getting pretty bored at home so I’m actually kind of excited to do school work.” The return to routine is a welcome relief for all sides of the issue. “It’s great that they’re back. I’ve got three kids,” says parent Mark Rowbottom. “I just hope it doesn’t affect their learning because of the time lost. I just hope the teachers got a fair deal.” The past six months have been filled with controversy for the province’s teachers, but last week an agreement was reached between the teachers and the province.
“Without knowing the particulars for the cost of inflation over the next five teachers were really fighting to bring of the agreement, I somehow feel they years. awareness to, explains Rolls. probably still got robbed in the deal,” says This means that the value of a teacher’s With the new agreement, it means they Rowbottom. salary will go down in the next five years can continue to discuss these problems. Education representatives were as the cost of living rises. As well, the new agreement provides diplomatic about the agreement. “Did we get what we want? No. Did we $75 million province-wide for schools to “There was give and take on both sides,” get what we need for our kids? No. But dedicate to hiring new teachers. says Chris Rolls, president of the Lake what we got is a good starting point,” says “That was one thing from the agreement Cowichan Teachers’ Association. Rolls. that we appreciate,” says Rolls. “I’m eager But Rolls feels the government distracted And what the teachers got, among other to see how this year is going to change and the public from the main issues of the things, was a promise that the government how many teachers get hired.” debate. would hear again in coming years the In the end, Rolls says that a lot of really The real issue was never about teachers’ issues which teachers were fighting to good things happened for children in the wages and benefits, explains Rolls, who make heard — class size and composition. lake communities, and the most important has been an educator for 30 years. Teachers As parents, children and educators know, thingSE was the community spirit. PTEM BEappreciate R 2014 all of the people wanted to raise awareness about class size class size has been increasing over the past “We greatly S M T W and composition, two topics that have years due to budget cuts. that showed their says Rolls. “It T support,” F S concerned educators for years now. With those increases, there is often an goes a long way to making us feel like we 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 The current agreement lasts for increase of special needs which may or were doing the right thing and fighting for five years. Teacher salaries increased may in students. Schools our kids.” SEPTnot EMbe SErecognized BE PT R 20 EM TORolls TO 14BEthe R 20 14 COAST COAST marginally, but they gave up the inflation don’t currently have resources to give voices what every parent and TO Seach TO M student T SW MTtheTFattention increase, meaning that teachers’ wages they deserve. educator knows. WS T F GET S were not increased enough to account It is these two main issues that $ the “It’s the kids that come first.”
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