Despite pleading from the community, the New Westminster school board decided to cut about 60 positions in order to balance the budget.
Trustees at last night's meeting meticulously combed through the options presented to them by secretary-treasurer Al Balanuik. There were more than a dozen items up for discussion and approval by the board, including staffing layoffs for administration, teachers, support staff and special education assistants.
Before the board began their discussion, board chair Michael Ewen explained to the parents, teachers and union leaders in attendance that in order to submit a balanced budget to the provincial government cuts would need to be made.
"We're presenting a balanced budget tonight," he reminded visitors.
And with that the board began the task of removing about $5.2 million from the preliminary 2013/14 operating budget.
First on the chopping block was the removal of three administration positions, including two vice-principals, saving the school district almost $250,000. After approving these cuts, trustees were faced with one of the two items most contested by members of the public since the deficit was first revealed, the possible layoffs of 35 special education assistants.
While trustees and senior administration were able to bring the number of special education positions down to 27, that was still too many for trustee Lisa Graham, who voiced her opposition to the decision up for approval.
"I recall the panic I felt when my son was faced with the same situation," she said.
Graham's autistic son, who graduated from New Westminster Secondary in 2010, was the main reason for her decision to run for school board trustee. Seeing once again the special education assistants were once again facing the brunt of layoffs was unacceptable, Graham said.
"We have a dual obligation to balance the budget and provide quality education," she said. "And I'm struggling with this."
Despite Graham's concerns, which were echoed around the board table, trustees approved the 27 layoffs in a two to four vote, saving the district more than $1 million.
Next came the teachers. Balanuik recommended cutting 19.4 full-time teaching positions in order to recover more than $1.5 million. This number hadn't changed since the previous preliminary budget presentation in March, but trustee Jonina Campbell said it was a struggle to keep it so low.
"It's with a heavy burden we feel we have to pass this," she said.
Other savings came from cutting the budgets for services, equipment, furniture and transportation. Supplies were also cut by more than $700,000, which Campbell said will require the community to be creative when it comes to helping their schools.
"People are going to have to find resourceful and creative solutions, and it's not easy. Parents are already busy, and they're being asked to do a lot," she said.
By the end of the process, the board had managed to cut just enough to balance the budget and remove the almost $5.2 million shortfall. While they were successful in a way, trustees reminded visitors that if the board refused to balance the budget the consequences for the district would be much more severe.
"Under the School Act, you're legally obligated to balance the budget, but you're also responsible for student achievement," Campbell said. "If we don't pass a balanced budget, a trustee is appointed and they come in and they make decisions with minimal consultation, if any."
This happened recently in Cowichan, where the school board there chose to remain in a deficit situation rather than balance the budget, arguing it was done in order to protect student education. The board was fired by the provincial government and replaced with someone from another district.
"As a teacher and as parent, I recognize that we're in a very challenging time educationally," Campbell said.
The final budget will be submitted to the Ministry of Education at the end of June.
