The BC government’s announcement that it will let school districts keep a provincial total of $25 million dollars in administrative savings cuts doesn’t go far enough for School District 57.
School Board Vice Chair Tim Bennett says last year’s cuts are still having an effect.
“We were asked to find $727,000 of quote-unquote low-hanging fruit. This year, that was deducted from our initial grant and then we were told we had to find $622,000. We no longer have to find that amount but that $727,000 from last year is still being deducted from next year’s budget.”
So the district is asking that the government refund all of the money.
“We’re asking the Minister of Education to fully rescind the decision for administrative savings,” says Bennett. “The $25 million that he announced provincially is a great first step but refund the $29 million from last year that is still impacting next year’s budget.”
Bennett’s proposal passed with strong support from trustees. When asked if he thinks the government will heed the board’s request, Bennett had this to say:
“I’m an optimistic person so I would love that to be the case. I’m not holding my breath.”
At a provincial level, that would mean returning a total of 29 million – 16% more than today’s announcement of $25 million.
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