Overview

As part of the Framework Letter of Understanding, the SSEAC was provided with a one-time payment of $3,000,000. These monies are being used to support skills training, retraining, or professional enhancement for support staff employees.

In the 2009/10 school year, the SSEAC decided to allocate $3,000,000 of the Workforce Adjustment Fund to further support Skills Enhancement and Retraining initiatives. As a result, support staff members and districts have been allocated a total of $6,000,000 to support education and retraining initiatives.

These funds have been used to support training in areas such as clerical and education assistant upgrading, BCeSiS training, trades cross training, IT upgrading, ABA, first aid, OHS – just to name a few.

“From a district perspective the funds have allowed us to update and enhance the skills of our support staff in specific areas….we very much appreciated having SSEAC funds available to support the professional enhancement of our employees.” Linda Underwood, Director of HR – SD 64 (Gulf Islands)

“I feel the training I received has helped the district and myself greatly by giving me the extra knowledge and qualifications to expand the role I can play in my department. Having a better understanding of the entire system helps me in my decisions of how to control them for better comfort and better efficiency.” Mike Lorenz, CUPE 4990 – SD 28 (Quesnel)

“The funds were put to excellent use when we partnered with Douglas College to provide innovative training opportunities to education assistants working in our district. Education assistants would not have had these opportunities without the support provided by the Skills Enhancement Fund.” June Kaiser, President, CUPE Local 716 – SD 38 (Richmond)