Cancelled grants hurt school district
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Updated: September 16, 2009 9:33 AM
School District 27 will need to make some tough financial
decisions this year but is
considering options that will
have little or no impact on classrooms.
The district is already in the red about $900,000 after completing some essential projects over the summer.
Those projects, all in Williams Lake, included contracted work at Columneetza Secondary, an emergency boiler replacement at Nesika Elementary and the replacement of a fuel tank at the bus garage due to environmental concerns.
The provincial government cancelled the annual grants that would have given the district approximately $1.5 million this year.
Those funds are generally used for minor renovations such as replacing flooring, all site work such as fencing and playground surfaces and construction or upgrade projects on buildings under $800,000 such as boiler replacement.
Pete Penner, board chair, said they’re not looking at layoffs yet; they’re trying to figure out efficiencies that won’t impact staff or students.
He said the board appreciates the input from the district forums held last year and will
use that information in their decision making.
Last year they looked at charging students for riding the school bus but decided against that.
“We might cut back on some routes and provide transportation assistance instead,” he said.
That’s just one piece of the funding difficulties.
The six per cent increase in Medical Services Plan premiums are expected to cost the district an additional $30,000 to $35,000 per year, about half the cost of one teacher.
Parent advisory committees (PAC) across the province have also had their grants slashed in half.
“It could be disheartening to parents who worked so hard to get chopped off at the knees,” said Penner.
He said the board has a good relationship with the PACs and would like to see that funding restored since they do a lot of good things in the schools.
The full impact of the funding pressures on the district remains to be seen and the board and staff will continue to develop and review options and efficiencies throughout the year.
Penner said the Harmonized Sales Tax shouldn’t affect the
district too much since they
will get rebates and it is expected that the change will be revenue neutral.
“We’d like the government to come up with more money but that money has to come from us (as taxpayers); so, what are you going to do?” he said.
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