School District Preps For Financial Report

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 01:49 PM

Prince George, B.C.- School District 57 is preparing to receive the report on its financial situation. That report is due to be delivered Tuesday January 19^th at a special meeting of the Board.

“We all know that declining enrolment, increased costs and new expenses that the ministry has not adequately funded have put us in a precarious position” says Board chair Lyn Hall. “We expect that the report will include recommendations for school closures as well as for reorganizing how we provide services to students in our district.”

Hall stresses the meeting on the 19^th is intended to introduce the report to the Board and is not designed to receive presentations from schools or communities that could potentially be affected by closures. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, but space in the Board room is limited. A webcast will be streamed at www.sd57.bc.ca and at the Van Bien Training and Development Centre on Wilson Crescent ( entrance on Upland Street).

“We are extremely sensitive to the anxieties and emotions that come with being told that your child’s school is under consideration for closure, but I want to assure everyone that they will be given ample opportunity to make their views known and to ask the tough questions during the consultation period.”

The report will be available to the public in printed form at the January 19^th meeting, and can be downloaded from the district’s website that evening (www.sd57.bc.ca)

The Board will meet again on January 26^th at which time it will formally adopt some or all of the recommendations in the report. That will mark the start of the Ministry mandated 60 day consultation period. A schedule for consultation meetings will be distributed very shortly after any motions are formally adopted.

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Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 01:49 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Flash on January 14 2010 3:32 PM

This will be pretty brutal, from what I've heard. Lots of school closures, lots of people losing jobs. And teachers and other school officials have told me that this has almost everything to do with cutbacks, and little to do with enrollment declines. The budget was balanced for the next few years but the government has clawed back a massive amount (MSP, future HST costs, cuts to promised funds for maintenance, carbon costs, etc.) I've been told the district will never look the same after Tuesday.

Has anyone else heard any rumours, or have any inside knowledge? Just curious. I really don't want to start a debate about what what cuts are needed-I'm no expert in this. But I would like to know if anyone is privy to any inside info.

Posted by: PaysHisOwnWay on January 14 2010 3:41 PM

Public education (like health care) is simply spending itself into extinction. The private systems do a better job for 50% less money. Go figure.

The FSA Tests are a perfect example. Go look at the rankings. Year after year the private systems do far better in a system where kids are allowed to fail, parents are expected to be active participants, teachers are held accountable and the schools compete for students.

Posted by: mikmak on January 15 2010 12:36 PM

hey flash, i'm a sub in the district so i get to hear all the rumours from all the schools and from other friends that have full time contracts or are also subs. keep in mind these are only rumours and they are flying. school closures are a definite. this will happen. i've heard as many as 15, but i'd imagine the number to be under 10. at least one of the junior highs (lakewood, john mcginnis) will close, and probably should, as enrollment is at about half capacity at these schools. i stick to high schools, so i'm not entirely sure what elementary schools are likely getting the axe.

i've heard rumours that lakewood will cease functioning as a junior high (8-10) and turn into a sort of mega elementary school, meaning elementary schools in the vicinity would close and pool their resources into one building.

i've heard that district 57 will amalgamate with other northern/cariboo districts into one "super-district" in order to cut down on admin costs, which any teacher would know are way too high.

teachers will lose jobs, younger teachers will be bumped in favour of those with seniority. my odds of landing a contract in this city rest with the decision next week. right now it's looking like i'll be heading for greener pastures elsewhere. it's sad, i'd like to stay here, but when you have teachers on the seniority list that still won't retire after 35-40 years of teaching in this district, there is little space for younger teachers.

on the good side, my first post!

i'm not even going to touch the fsa issue right now!