Vancouver teachers forced to pay for parking starting next school year

Come September, teachers in Vancouver will have to pay for parking for the first time ever.

The Vancouver School District says there will be a nominal fee of about $10-$15 per month per employee.

When implemented, Vancouver will be the first school district in B.C. to charge teachers to park at work.

Between repaving and snow removal, the district says it spends $300,000 to maintain 3,500 parking spaces.

By charging the parking fee, it will re-coup $225,000.

The district hopes it will encourage greater use of transit, but there is no doubt this is the result of a budget shortfall.

It’s not the first budget item to be trimmed.

Last month, the district’s band program was about to be shut down until one time funding was found. There is no guarantee it will be saved next year.

Teachers say they shouldn’t be paying for parking, considering so many of them volunteer their time for extracurricular activities.