Every day and week you can find an article somewhere in BC stating that Education is underfunded or that School Districts are having difficulty with cut-backs.

Here is part of a memo on finances for the next year 2015-2016 in School District #53:

To: Finance & Facilities Committee
From: Lynda Minnabarriet

Highlights:

1. Total budget bylaw of $27.9 million; increase from 2014/15 of $129,000
2. Total operating revenue of $23.8 million; increase from 2014/15 of $500,000
3. Total operating expense of $23.7 million; increase from 2014/15 of $40,000

4. Overall reduction in salaries and benefits of $41,000
a. School staffing changes based on projected school enrolment:
i. Teacher reduction of 3 FTE
ii. Reduction in special education of $170,000 (based on anticipated Ministry funding)

b. District administration changes:
i. Elimination of assistant superintendent position and dollars redistributed to networks and savings of $36,000.
ii. Review of superintendent of schools budget areas with savings of $60,000. Savings were achieved due to the creation and nature of the work of the networks.

c. Excluded staff compensation:
i. Included 3% increase for principals, vice principals and excluded staff; requires further discussion by trustees as to the appropriate budget amount.

5. Projected surplus from 2015/16 operating revenue vs. expense is $161,539. With additional required capital expenditures, the surplus required to fund 2015/16 expenditures is $173,461 (structural deficit).

Lynda Minnabarriet
Secretary-Treasurer