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MLA, SD79 dismayed with budget HEADACHES AHEAD:
B.C. schools asked to save $137 million LEXI BAINAS CITIZEN
Provincial Finance Minister Mike de Jong announced Tuesday that he was presenting a balanced budget, but school trustees are not happy with how he’s achieving that balance. Although the education budget will increase by $564 million over the next three years, de Jong is calling for school districts to find so-called savings of $137 million. Finding that money means headaches and some frustration for school trustees, according to Candace Spilsbury, chair of the Cowichan Valley Board of Education. “I think the main issue is the clawback goes to the main government working capital rather than keeping it within the school districts, who are so needy with all the increased costs that are being downloaded onto them,” she said. “The BC School Trustees Association have worked so hard try-
Friday, February 20, 2015
KUNG HEI FAT CHOY!
ing to advocate and explain the difficulties facing trustees right now: the lack of increased funds as all of the expenditures have increased through inflation. It’s a very difficult time for trustees. And it’s been years where they’ve faced these challenging budget decreases. It’s compounded the frustration because they’re looking for increased funding and it’s reversed by the government taking back funds,” she said. Spilsbury said the reaction might be different if the provincial government were taking back the money to develop additional education programs. “That’s where the upset is coming from: the lack of recognition that we really need the money.” Asked if she had heard from the BCSTA, Spilsbury said a letter had already gone out to trustees across the province. “Yes, it gave the background on the funding that came through the budget and indicated that the BCSTA will be seeking an audience with the minister to continue advocating on our behalf, explaining the situation,” she said. See EDUCATION, Page 4
In advance of the official start of the Lunar Year of the Sheep (or Goat or Ram) on Thursday, Cowichan Bay’s Oceanfront Suites hotel marks the new year with a traditional Chinese lion dance last Sunday. [LEXI BAINAS/CITIZEN]