The school district’s controversial business company, which has managed to turn a profit in recent years, including infusing approximately $225,000 into this year’s budget, was forced to close because of changes to provincial regulations for operating offshore schools.
In his report at the business company’s annual general meeting, chief executive officer Brent Atkinson said policy changes with the new B.C. Global Education program made it impossible for government entities to operate overseas schools.
“I think it’s unfortunate that the new policy, which was drafted in November or December of last year, in which we had a couple of conference calls, and I gave my input as to what I thought was happening, and they just went ahead and did it, and now we’re stuck with the results,” Atkinson said. “I’m unhappy about it.”
Among the changes in the policy that impacted the district’s company were new rules that meant business companies of school districts could only apply as program consultants. They are not eligible to be operators, which meant a much lower return. As well, owner-operators must be a non-governmental entity incorporated in the jurisdiction in which the school will operate.
Another challenge for the company was a new regulation that required that all offshore students pass all provincial exams required for graduation. Classroom marks and provincial exams can no longer be blended to obtain an average mark, as is the case for students – including international learners – studying in British Columbia.
The new rules made it impossible for the district to carry on, but Atkinson couldn’t say what prompted the changes.
“I can’t comment on that,” he said. “I don’t know. I just know we didn’t get approved, which means that we weren’t able to proceed with the program.”“They are the ministry. They don’t provide explanation. They just provide this is the way it is,” Atkinson added.
The only other school district – Abbotsford – to operate an overseas company has already closed down its operation as a result of the changes.
The district has operated the business company for almost 10 years and offered a B.C. program at the Canadian Secondary Wenzhou No. 22 School and an English program at two middle school campuses in China. As well, in September it expanded to two other offshore locations in another part of China for the English program for elementary students, as well as offering an education program in Korea.
The company, which had drained the district’s coffers when it first formed due to about $1 million in start-up costs, finally managed to turn a profit when Atkinson took over in 2007. It eventually paid back the start-up money, with interest, to the district.
As a result of the wind down, the district had to pay severance to staff, which was recorded on last year’s audited financial statements, though it won’t be paid out until next year.
