Realizing the full impact of its nearly $62-million budget shortfall, Calgary Board of Education trustees will vote tonight on a plan that projects cutting more than 280 full-time school-based staff.

Of those, the CBE estimates 75 per cent of the cuts would fall directly on teachers.

“When we saw this provincial budget, we knew this day would come,” said Naomi Johnson, chief superintendent of schools, in a statement. “We knew we could not possibly absorb a $61.7-million shortfall without affecting students in classrooms.”

The CBE has already presented a phased approach to deal with the budget crunch that could see 172 positions eliminated from central-service departments such as communications, human resources and finance.

Tonight’s deliberations will focus on phase 2 – resource allocation method. This approach sees school principals provided with an allocation of funds available for the upcoming school year so they can staff accordingly before May 3.

Laura Shutiak, former president of the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils, questioned the CBE’s thinking, noting trustees will not vote on an official budget for the upcoming year until June.

“They are making this decision (tonight) on the most important core piece that affects students without a full picture of the CBE’s finances,” she said. “It’s a backwards process … administration’s driving the ship.”

No one within CBE administration was available for comment on the process yesterday.

Multiple trustees were also contacted yesterday; however, none were available or able to provide comment. Trustees Carol Bazinet and Sheila Taylor both indicated they may not be able to vote on the resource allocation method proposal  tonight citing conflicts of interest.