Vancouver - (June 2, 2016) – On May 31, 2016 the Ministry of
Education announced budget relief of $25-million to BC school
districts. Vancouver’s share of the additional funding is approximately
$2.25-million, reducing the VSB 2016-17 budget shortfall from
$24.2-million to $21.8-million. While the VSB welcomes this additional
funding, the Board continues to advocate for adequate, stable, and
predictable funding.
Since the defeat of the April 28th VSB
budget proposals, there has been no Board-approved operating budget in
place for the 2016-17 school year. The additional $2.25-million Ministry
funding has enabled district senior staff to amend those proposals,
reinstating some of the positions that have a direct impact on classroom
learning. The full report can be found here (Revised Preliminary Budget; June 1 Document). Highlights of the amendments are in the background document that follows.
Without
a Board-approved budget, the School Act requires the Superintendent to
implement the proposals to deal with the $21.8-million shortfall and
protect the financial interests of the VSB. Chair Mike Lombardi
acknowledges that responsibility and says: “The Superintendent is doing
so with the board’s understanding and full confidence.”
Although
the adjusted 2016-17 budget proposals being implemented by staff are
interim, they will proceed unless the board reconsiders its decision to
defeat the proposals and provides further direction.
VSB
stakeholders and the community will have a chance to provide feedback on
the amended proposals at a Committee of the Whole meeting at the
Education Centre, Tuesday, June 7, 2016, 5-10pm. Stakeholder feedback:
5-7pm. Community feedback: 7-10pm.
In the meantime, the board
continues to work with the Minister of Education to secure additional
funding for the operating budget. “We remain hopeful that the proposed
cuts can be reduced or eliminated. If additional funding becomes
available in the coming weeks or months my expectation is that the
budget proposals would be adjusted accordingly,” said the Chair.
“I
would like to thank parents, teachers, students, stakeholders, and
community members for supporting the advocacy efforts of the VSB to
secure adequate, stable, and ongoing funding for Vancouver public
schools.”
For media inquiries contact:
Elaine McKay
604-713-5074 (O) communications@vsb.bc.ca
Backgrounder
- The School Act requires school boards to submit a balanced budget by June 30, 2016.
- VSB’s
superintendent of schools is implementing staff proposals for the
2016-17 operating budget to deal with a significant shortfall.
- On
May 31, 2016 the Ministry of Education announced budget relief totaling
$25-million to be shared by school districts around the province.
- Vancouver’s share of the additional funding is approximately $2.25-million, reducing its budget shortfall to $21.8-million
- The
reduced shortfall allowed amendments to staff budget proposals to
reinstate some positions. That includes reinstating the following Full
Time Equivalent (FTE) positions:
- 10 School Based Office support positions
- 7.14 Secondary Teaching Staff
- 5 Special Education Support workers
- 2 Elementary Teachers
- 2 School-Based Vice-Principals
- .8 Gifted Teacher Mentor
- 1 District-based Gifted staff
- 1 Enhanced Services Literacy Teacher
- 1 Multicultural Liaison Worker
- 1 Career Information Assistant
- Ministry
of Education budget relief to all districts, announced on April 19 and
May 31, reduced the number of cuts required by VSB to balance its
2016-17 operating budget from an initial 167 positions to 98.25
- More
than 71 of those positions remain at levels 3 and 4 – the most severe
cuts that will have a direct impact on classrooms and learning.
