B.C. school boards will have to cut $29 million in the next year, and $54 million over the next two years, says the provincial government.
The result is this year the Victoria School District will be forced to cut $1 million of fat from its administration budget. The cuts can’t come from the classroom.
The B.C. Liberals says they would like to see some amalgamation of services between neighbouring school boards and that’s not such a bad idea.
We’re sure you wouldn’t have to look very hard in government to find suitable cuts and areas where district could come together to share resources.
The Education and Health Ministries continue to be a black hole for government money – both major expenditures for the provincial government.
Instead of griping about the problem (after all, the province has been forced to make cuts of its own to keep the budget balanced), it would be refreshing to see school trustees come together to see what could be done to deliver better service and lower costs.
How that would look must come from the education sector and parents.
The focus must always be put into the classroom and better preparing our students for the future.
Adminstration and non-teaching roles are important, but does every school district need someone counting widgets when that same person could count widgets for two or even three districts?
To use a tired, old cliché: it’s time to look outside the box – or classroom, if you wish – to find solutions.
