It’s almost like the movie Groundhog Day keeps repeating itself at the Vernon School District board office.
Year after year, trustees and administration have to relive the same difficult task of paring back the budget because of inadequate funding and government edicts.
And the looming 2015/16 school year won’t be any different.
Because Victoria has ordered administrative reductions, $437,000 must be found in the next budget, and that figure will climb to a staggering $814,000 in 2016/17. When reduced enrolment and increased costs for utilities and MSP are factored into the equation, the district must slash $1 million in the next two years.
Given the extent of cuts in the last decade, it’s difficult to know what actions the school district can reasonably take. While the government has mandated that administrative reductions won’t impact students, the reality is that non-instructional duties are critical to the day-to-day activities that occur in classrooms.
“There are no good decisions. All of them will be difficult,” said Joe Rogers, superintendent.
As part of the budget process, a public input session will be held today at 6:30 p.m. at the Schubert Centre.
“We will lay out the problem we have,” said Rogers.
Teachers and support staff will be present, which is natural as they have a vested interest as educational partners. However, what is also needed is for trustees to hear from students, parents and residents who don’t have children in the system.
Not only may the public have valuable insight that helps with the budget, but attending will make residents more aware of the government’s endless cycle of penny-pinching.
