Faced with looming cuts and a multi-million dollar shortfall, the Vancouver School Board is voting tonight on the proposed budget for next year.
The VSB says it needs more than $27 million, which is $3 million more than they had been warning about just last month.
Among the suggested cuts, allowing more than 30 students in some classrooms, eliminating the optional band and strings program at the elementary level, and lots of staff and teacher cuts. Declining enrolment (since 2012 public school enrolment in Vancouver has dropped by more than 2,100 students) and the high cost of upgrading and replacing aging school buildings gets some of the blame, but the board says the provincial government needs to spend more on education.
READ MORE: VSB report recommends up to 21 Vancouver school closures
Earlier this week parents and students rallied, urging trustees to vote against adopting the budget, even if it costs them their jobs.
Vision Vancouver school trustees Joy Alexander, Patti Bachus, Mike Lombardi and Allan Wong said in a press release today that they will be voting to reject the VSB budget proposals for next year.
“We have heard from our partner groups, parents, students and members of the public that it’s is time to unite and stand up and say ‘no’ to further cuts to public schools,” Vision Trustee Patti Bacchus said in a statement.
“We invite the NPA and Green Party trustees to unite with us and reject this budget. We’ve heard over and over the proposed cuts go too far. It’s time to unite and work with government to develop a vision for education where every student gets the best possible chance to learn, grow and succeed.”
The Vision trustees will vote in support of the proposed Restoration Budget which states that the accumulated annual funding shortfall, compared with a base line of 2002/03, is now just under $80 million.
The province could fire the school board if they do not submit a balanced budget.
Earlier this month the education minister said, “the VSB’s failure to deal with under-capacity schools over the years means taxpayers are paying an extra $37 million a year funding empty seats instead of education.”
Meanwhile, a poll conducted by Insights West shows a significant majority of Vancouverites are opposed to school closures and cuts to educational programs. Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) think the provincial government is responsible for the school board’s shortfall and the consequences.
The poll shows 56 per cent of respondents think the board should pass a deficit budget to avoid cuts and pressure the government to increase funding.
The poll was commissioned by the local unions that represent Vancouver school workers.