Approximately 50 early childhood educators (ECE) with the Thames Valley District school board have been laid off.
The board has confirmed the layoff notices were issued on Wednesday as a result of low registration in its Kindergarten program. More parents have been choosing to delay the start of school for their little ones because of the ongoing pandemic.
It is hoped that as COVID-19 cases continue to trend downward across the province, that will change and that would allow the board to bring back the laid off workers.
"As vaccination rates increase and the pandemic eases, we are hopeful many parents will choose to send their children to school and many ECEs may be recalled in September,” the board said in a statement issued Thursday.
The board employs roughly 416 early childhood educators for its 132 elementary schools.
