SALMON ARM – Recently, the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, including trustee resignations, apologies and a controversy over the allocation of money.
However, despite the drama, next year’s budget still needs to be worked out.
Read More: School officials apologize over handling of funds for new building
With the district short $1.6 million, where those cuts should come from is yet another source of conflict.
At a meeting on Thursday to discuss next year’s finical blueprint many parents were concerned the cuts would end up hurting student programs.
“We are talking about kids. This is going to make a difference for their entire life,” said parent Marty Gibbons.
However, trustee Bob Fowler said officials are also limited by the funding they receive from the province.
“I think the needs of students comes first in our minds. However, the underfunding situation that we encounter leaves us with no other choices sometimes other than impacting the programs and students directly,” said Fowler.
In response to allegations of underfunding, the province said over the last 15 years enrollment has dropped and per student funding in the district has increased more than 50 per cent.
However, district officials argue they are also facing increasing costs for things like electricity and MSP premiums.
The difficult budget decisions come at a time when the district has been dogged by controversy over the transfer of surplus operating funds to pay for a new building.
“Parents across the board are saying that trustees really have lost the trust of the parents and there is not a whole lot of confidence,” said Jennifer Henrie with the District Parent Advisory Council.
Read More: Third North Okanagan – Shuswap trustee resigns
Officials have apologized, some trustees have resigned and a special advisor has been called in to do a review of the school board.
Read More: Government hires special advisor to review SD 83 board after 3 trustees resign
There is also the looming threat of eventual school closures, complicating matters as officials try to decide where to cut.
“Our society really wants to work on revenue generating ideas so that we can come out of this without having to lose schools,” said Tennile Lachmuth with the Armstrong Spallumcheen Education Society.
Some parents would like to see administrative reductions.
“It will hurt and it will pinch and it will squeeze a bit like it has for the students in the past years,” said Henrie.
Fowler says administrative cuts are always on the table and officials are looking at almost everything, including charging for busing.
Read More: North Okanagan – Shuswap school closure decision delayed
The budget is expected to be finalized in May.
The special advisor is also supposed to turn in her report to the province on May 20.
Meanwhile, the local teachers union president says she will no longer participate in the budget advisory process, saying many of her members have lost faith in it.
School officials say they are sorry that teachers won’t have that voice at the table.
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