Former Saanich School District secretary-treasurer Joan Axford has been named as an independent adviser to help the Greater Victoria School District deal with a $7-million budget deficit.
Greater Victoria school officials decided to bring in an adviser after proposed cuts to their 2021-22 budget, including cuts to music programs, generated considerable opposition from the public.
School districts are required to deliver balanced budgets to the province by June.
Bringing in an adviser meant postponing passage of the $253-million budget, which had been scheduled for a vote this week.
Greater Victoria School Board chair Jordan Watters and district superintendent Shelley Green said they wanted an adviser to help review the budgetary process and make recommendations to the board.
The prospect of cuts to music programs and other services has generated a series of demonstrations, including one on Saturday that brought out crowds of people to line Douglas Street.
