Article content

Saskatoon Public Schools hopes to save $515,000 a year by making its central resources centre leaner.

The organization announced last week it is dissolving the curriculum materials centre and technical services department within its central office by the end of August. Nine library technicians and the equivalent of 1.5 full-time-equivalent clerk positions will be affected.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Tight budget forces Saskatoon Public Schools cuts Back to video

Ray Morrison, chair of the public school board, said no layoff notices have been issued and staff from the central office will be moved to schools wherever possible. Four new schools are expected to open this fall and some library technicians may retire this year, which could leave room for those who will no longer have jobs in the central office.

Under union rules, if library technicians from the central office have more seniority than those working at schools, they will be able to bump less senior employees.

“We probably won’t know the outcome of all that until probably over the summer sometime,” Morrison said.

Library technicians help librarians develop, organize and maintain materials and equipment and help students and staff find and use library resources. The ones working out of the central office circulate, process and catalogue Saskatoon Public Schools’ shared resources and work to automate library collections.

ahill@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/MsAndreaHill