A unified front has been launched to fight education funding cuts.

The Vernon School District, the Vernon Teachers Association, CUPE local 5523 and the District Parents Advisory Council have written a letter to Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid protesting recent financial policies.

“I think it’s a powerful statement that all four parties agree,” said Bruce Cummings, VTA president.

The four groups also presented their case to Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster Tuesday.

Frustration revolves around the loss of the $1.6 million annual facility grant and the parent advisory councils’ lack of access to gaming grants. Funding for districts also didn’t keep pace with the cost of living.

“The cuts have gone too far. Children’s education is being affected,” said Mark Olsen, CUPE president.

As a result of the annual facility grant being eliminated, 13 temporary employees have been laid off and major projects cancelled, including new roofs at six schools.

Four full-time tradesmen may also be laid off, but they will be retained for the current year after money was diverted from student technology equipment.

Olsen says the grant was eliminated after budgets had been approved and projects initiated.

“It was unfair to the district and trustees trying to manage a budget that keeps disappearing,” he said.

PACs recently learned they will only receive half of the gaming grants they generally get, and that will mean less money for equipment, programs and supplies.

“It comes right down to the classroom,” said Pam Hargreaves, DPAC president.

Hargreaves doesn’t believe parents can fill the void on their own.

“Parents are tapped out. They are fundraised to the max,” she said.

The four groups are asking the government to fully fund increased costs to districts, reverse all of the cuts made in the past month, fund the cost of H1N1 prevention, grant HST rebates to districts and to fully fund all-day kindergarten implementation.

“If they don’t fund it, should we be doing it?” said Cummings of initiatives like expanding kindergarten and addressing swine flu.

Cummings suggests the ministry could save money elsewhere such as scrapping mandatory government exams in Grades 10 and 11 when they are optional in Grade 12.

“Exams are expensive,” he said.

The four organizations will continue to pressure Victoria, but Hargreaves is urging parents to get involved.

“We’re asking individual PACs to write the minister,” she said.