Contract negotiations for about 600 full and part-time teachers in the Vernon School District 22 are underway. Teachers Association president Bruce Cummings says talks began a week ago. Cummings is pleased with a new court ruling, overturning a law that has barred teachers from negotiating the issues of class size and composition. ``It may or may not have an impact this year,'' says Cummings. ``I hope it does but the BC government may appeal it.'' Cummings says the school board's efforts to cut costs in recent years has led to bigger classes at the Grades 4 to 7 level. The Board of Education learned last week that District 22 faces a $1.7-million shortfall in its operating budget for the upcoming school year. Cummings fears more teacher losses and bigger classes. ``Class sizes are constantly being pushed up,'' he warns. Cummings says it's been about 20 years since teachers' have been involved in local contract negotiations. ``We have some very stale, outdated language in our collective agreement so we want to bring it up-to-date,'' he says. Salary negotiations are taking place at the provincial level.
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