About 50 concerned parents, union members and educators attended the board of education's budget meeting Tuesday to hear how the district's chronic deficit situation will impact jobs and classrooms.
The final numbers for this year's budget won't be confirmed until the end of June, but for now the situation looks grim with about 20 teaching positions, 15 support staff positions and 35 special education assistant positions facing potential layoffs.
"At this point, I am projecting we will end this school year approximately $1 million in the red," acting secretary-treasurer Al Balanuik said. "That is the worst case at this point that we are looking at."
The deficit figures are a work in progress, Balanuik said. "I keep saying 'if' because it's important to understand this is not a done deal," he said.
One of the main concerns for attendees was how the budget cuts will impact the most vulnerable students - those with special needs.
"It strikes us to the core the impact it's going to have on children," superintendent John Woudzia said, summing up the situation.
In addition to this year's shortfall, the district also has a hefty $2.8-million surprise shortfall from last year, which it has five years to repay.
Last year's deficit was caused by increases in business costs and miscalculations on staff and service costs, according to a report from consultant Joan Axford.
By law, school districts are required to present balanced budgets. The school district has faced three budget shortfalls in the past 11 years - a fact union members in the crowd and some labour-endorsed trustees blamed on provincial funding.
Board of education chair Michael Ewen said the district has to advocate for more funding for public education.
"We know what the Ministry of Education is providing us is not adequate to meet the educational needs (of students)," Ewen said. "We need to look to both parties to see if they are interested in increasing education spending.
"Currently, we have a government that has a priority about balancing the budget," he said. "For me it's going to come down to advocating for more money through the election. At this point, no trustee, that I'm aware of, is prepared to go the route of the Cowichan school district and defy the government.
"We need to be really clear, people are going to get less services, our adult students will get less services, our students will get less services," Ewen said to the crowd, which included New Westminster's provincial NDP candidate Judy Darcy.
CUPE Local 409 president Marcel Marsolais, whose union represents support staff in the district, also commented on education funding under the current government.
"Education is not going to be the same unless there is a change on May 14 . we are at a point now where this can't be what school boards do. They can't go down this road and expect quality education," Marsolais said.
But while the NDP hasn't laid out its spending platform. Darcy told The Record it would do so in the first week of the campaign.
Trustee Lisa Graham, whose son has autism, said it doesn't matter which government is in power, special needs have always been underfunded
"Regardless of what government is in government, it's just a fact," she said.
The meeting was held on the same day as World Autism Awareness Day, Graham noted.
"When I look at 35 SEAs (special education assistants), it's impossible. We have children who are entitled to have those SEAs in place. I panicked years ago, which is why I ran (for school board), because I thought my son can't function in school. I'm going to run and I'm going to fix this," she said, then looked down and added, "Déjà vu."
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