The New Westminster school district's recent announcement that longtime assistant superintendent Al Balanuik was officially appointed secretary-treasurer left some wondering how a district that had been calling for more help in the finance department would make do with less.
But board of education chair Michael Ewen said it wouldn't have to. He told The Record last week the district plans to post for a director of finance position.
"The plan has always been to bring in a director of finance," Ewen said. "They will post (the position) in about a week."
The title won't be assistant secretary-treasurer, Ewen said.
"I'm not convinced a district of our size, (that) we should have an assistant superintendent, or an assistant secretary-treasurer," he said. "The secretary-treasurer has broad range of responsibilities."
Balanuik has been the district's acting secretary-treasurer since Brian Sommerfeldt left in March and received $195,320 in severance from the district. Sommerfeldt worked in New Westminster for just four years.
Last fall, when the district's financial situation was revealed - it had a $2.8 million deficit that only came out after the board of education passed what it thought was a balanced budget - there was a great deal of talk about the lack of support in the secretary-treasurer's office, given that there wasn't an assistant.
Consultant Joan Axford, who was brought in to review the books, also spoke about the need for an assistant secretary-treasurer.
Balanuik's appointment, which makes him both secretary-treasurer and assistant superintendent, means he'll be wearing two hats, and the district is down a senior administrator.
Balanuik has 32 years of experience in the public school system. He has a PhD in education and master's degree in business administration.
