In a 5-4 decision, the Vancouver School Board voted against the budget Thursday that included $24 million in cuts to programs, services and staff. I support their decision.
Education Minister Mike Bernier stated: “Right now, there is $37 million a year in Vancouver that should be going to essential classroom services that past boards have instead chosen to invest in heating and maintaining empty spaces in classrooms.”
Trustees do this to keep schools open in local neighbourhoods. Often so called “empty” classrooms are used for art, drama, sensory support for students with cognitive and behavioural challenges, for de-escalation or reflection for students needing quiet space, or for small-group instruction or counselling. All these activities provide essential services for students.
In the Greater Victoria School District, our superintendent, secretary-treasurer and senior staff were thorough in their work to balance the budget this year. To be clear though, we are working within a scarcity paradigm, as are all school districts across B.C. A basic analysis by our administrators and teachers in September indicated that at a basic minimum, we need at least $8.5 million. That means many students are not receiving valuable instructional time and other essential support for their learning.
And for this reason I, too, voted against our the 2016-17 budget provided by the provincial government.
Deborah Nohr, trustee
Greater Victoria School District
