Back To Class

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 03:58 AM

Prince George, B.C.- It's back to school today for thousands of students in School District 57. As they head back to class there is a cloud of uncertainty over what may be cut now that the School District is in the red over the loss of facility grants.

School closures are a possibility as School District 57 tries to cope with a shortfall in facility grant funding. “The Board is going to have to look at all the options, we have to look at where we can make savings” says Board Chair Lyn Hall.

Enrolment is expected to be down by about 400 students throughout School District region again this year. That is continuing the steady decline which has plagued the District over the years.

Notification of the loss of the facility grants came just two weeks before maintenance contracts were completed. That has left School District 57 millions of dollars in the hole as it is must honour the contracts with no funding to do so.

There aren’t many options available. Some staff cuts could come through retirement and attrition, he says the administration is already very “lean” but some programs being offered at schools may have to be cut “It may be that instead of offering a wood or metal working shop in both semesters, just one can be offered, that’s just an example of the kinds of programs that could be impacted” says Hall.

Hall says the implications at specific schools will be decided by those schools as schools are given a budget within which they must operate.

It isn’t lost on Lyn Hall that School District 57 facing challenges not experienced in the lower mainland. School District 57 has more bussing than any other School District and if a school is closed, students don’t have the option of moving a few blocks down the road to another School District, or another school. Along with transportation, there are heating issues and snow removal just a couple of matters which don’t impact many schools in the lower mainland.

The Provincial Ministry of Education has also suggested there may some amalgamation, and Hall is of mixed mind on that one. “If they are talking about amalgamating services, that would be good, Prince George is well positioned to provide HR services for example. But it makes no sense for us to lump landscaping together, we aren’t going to see any savings in hauling a lawnmower to Vanderhoof. If they are talking about the amalgamation of districts, take Prince George for example and the smaller outlying in districts and combining them into one and having one Board represent those districts, then that's not for me. My preference is that it's a locally elected Board because I think those locally elected people have the interest of the community, they know the concerns of the community. ”

With a budget of about $120 million dollars, School District 57 is one of the largest employers in the region.

Hall says the group which represents the Northern School Trustees will be meeting in Smithers later this month and will hold talks with the Minister of Education at that time “She (Margaret MacDiarmid) has indicated she’s prepared to discuss issues with the Districts, and that’s great, we need to have that conversation.”

In the meantime, School District 57 administration is preparing for the special meeting of the School Board, which is set for the 22^nd of this month.

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Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: salsa on September 9 2009 5:25 AM

Hey,we all have to do our part for the olympics

Posted by: faxman on September 9 2009 6:31 AM

Slow down!!!!!!

Posted by: metalman on September 9 2009 8:32 AM

You said it salsa! I noticed that the provincial government stepped up to fill the vacancies serving the almighty olympics, I wonder how much that is costing us? Bend over and grab your ankles.
Cutting the facility operating grants is (yet another) dirty trick perpetrated by the government. Should we pretend to believe them when they claim that the "recession" blind sided them? Could'nt see it coming? Apparently it was impossible to let the school boards know in March or earlier that there would not be enough money to pay for the annual summer projects, what an idiotic system they have in granting money for essentials like school maintenance.
metalman.

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on September 9 2009 9:20 AM

And just yesterday our beloved education minister announced that grants give to Parent Advisory Councils (PAC) are now going to be cut in half. If you are a member of PAC, you know that money always goes to the kids in the form of field trips, band instruments, school supplies, etc.

The huge irony about this announcement was that it was made at a school where the education minister was promoting the 2010 olympics.

Now is that a slap to the face of those kids are what? "Here kids are three poorly created mascots that you will be paying for for the next 40 years. OH by the way, forget those field trips and a band program!"

Shameless!

Posted by: rambleon on September 9 2009 10:03 AM

Can anyone explain to me why the first day of school needs to be a professional development day? Isn't two months off enough to get your ducks in a row?

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on September 9 2009 2:00 PM

well actually most teachers will show up the week before to get their stuff together and get ready. All this without pay to.

First day is for the parents to get their Stuff together. You know school supplies, all that stuff they could have bought in early August instead of waiting until the last minute.

Posted by: faxman on September 9 2009 2:41 PM

quote:

Can anyone explain to me why the first day of school needs to be a professional development day? Isn't two months off enough to get your ducks in a row?

Come on now, don't diss the teachers; they work hard dontcha know? It takes a lot out of you working 5 hour days for 9 months of the year.

Posted by: MrsRedneck on September 9 2009 5:07 PM

faxman - I'll bet you've not been in a classroom since you maybe graduated. You have no idea how hard teachers work, how many extra hours they put in to organize field trips, and other special events/experiences for students, never mind how much of their own money they spend for resources for the classroom. Maybe you should go volunteer for a couple of mornings, and see what teachers put up with, from kids who won't/don't listen, who talk back, swear at you, hurt other students & sometimes staff, won't/don't do homework, and parents who are not available to meet with parents because they are too busy with their own lives. Uh yea, and don't forget the kids who are sick who go to school because no one is home to take care of them! and NO I am not a teacher, but I have seen it!

Posted by: Chester on September 9 2009 10:01 PM

Maybe I'm a little old fashioned. But when I showed up for my first day at a job, I came with my lunch bucket, my work boots and a desire and willingness to start my job. What has happened since then?

I am so tired of hearing about not enough teaching time and we pull a Pro D day the first day of school. The second day is just going to look like the first day, so what's the reason for the delay?

Posted by: Yoshi on September 10 2009 7:27 AM

There are the same number of days of instruction this year and every other year-it really doesn't matter when the pro-d days are.

While teachers collaborate with the school board about Pro-d days, the board has the final say.

When the students are not in the building, teachers are still working. They spent time working with administration and other teachers to set guidelines and themes for the year. New teachers to a school get an opportunity to see how their new school works, and how they can work with administration and other teachers to make sure things go well.

And to people who ask about the two months-most teachers I work with have been in to their schools for the past week or so getting ready for students. How many of you would willingly go to work on your days off?

All of the people I know and I work with work hard, no matter what their jobs. Before you begin attacking other professions, talk to the people who do the job. Walk a mile in their shoes. People put in their time, and most try to ensure they do a great job, no matter what the job.