The Vancouver School Board is playing host to Education Minister George Abbott today, but press releases or interview requests might be slower than usual since the District office laid off its communications department and six other managerial positions yesterday.

School Board Chair Patti Bacchus says the district isn't saying what the eight positions were just yet to give people time to talk to their families and absorb the news, but did confirm the two communications department positions were among those let go effective yesterday.

However just because these positions are vacant now doesn’t mean their roles won't be filled in the near future, says Bacchus.

"There is some plan for some restructuring, some consolidation of positions, some reorganizing, redefining of positions. So while those two individuals in that department were laid off, effective today, it doesn't mean that there will be no communications department," she told The Tyee.

"But there's no question that when you look at something like communications in a district this size, with all the complexity, it's going to be a challenge."

The move comes as the School Board—which oversees the second largest school district in the province—is set to table a preliminary budget next Tuesday with a budget shortfall of over $8 million. But Bacchus says these layoffs are just the latest development in a move to streamline the District's main office in the face of consecutive budget shortfalls, which has included not replacing staff who retire.

And more positions could be next, according to Bacchus, including unionized positions, in an effort to protect frontline services from more cuts. Needless to say, funding will be the first topic of conversation when the trustees meet with Abbott today.

"As difficult as these eight layoffs were today, in the context of what's happened in this district, of what we've seen in schools, of what we've seen even in our district staff, there's a continuation of that same theme, and it is increasingly difficult to meet the needs of our students and our communities. And it's felt in many ways, no question, throughout the district," says Bacchus.

Katie Hyslop reports on education for the Tyee Solutions Society, and is a freelance reporter for a number of other outlets including The Tyee.