New Westminster’s school board chair is commending schools for identifying a number of cost saving measures to help the ailing district.
In a media release, board chair Jonina Campbell praised staff, students, parents and others in the community for their hard work in light of the desperate budget situation facing the school district. Last year, the board of education voted to cut funding for supplies by more than $1.1 million for the 2013/14 school year in order to offset the number of staff it would have to layoff.
This decision is meant only as a short-term means of saving money, according to the release. The board has “asked staff and others to identify ways to limit the impact of the funding reduction” so the cuts wouldn’t further impact the students’ learning opportunities, the release added.
“Schools and programs have identified and cut unnecessary cost items, deferred, where possible, the purchase of necessary supplies and materials, and tapped into alternate funding sources including school‐generated cash. Further, parent advisory councils throughout the School District have continued to find ways to support our schools and programs including providing financial support,” Campbell said in the release.
Funding cuts to the supplies budget are especially concerning to parents at New Westminster secondary, but according to Campbell, the district is doing everything it can to limit the impact the budget cuts have on all students in New Westminster.
“The supplies budget for New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) has been a topic of some discussion of late. The Board is aware of the financial challenges faced by all of its schools and programs at this time, and remains firm in its resolve to find ways to protect the many and varied programs and services that contribute to student learning throughout the school district, including those at NWSS,” she added.
To improve communication between the district and parents on the budget process, the school board is holding five community consultation meetings to gather input from parents, staff and students for the 2014/15 budget. The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29 at Queen Elizabeth at 921 Salter St. The next is at Richard McBride at 331 Richmond St. at 6 p.m. on Feb. 6. The third is at John Robson at 120 Eighth St. at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 and the fourth is at New Westminster Secondary School at 835 Eighth St. at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24. The fifth meeting will take place on Mar. 10 at 7 p.m. The location has yet to be determined.
For more information, visit district.sd40.bc.ca.
