Education minister Margaret MacDiarmid today appointed a special advisor to review the Vancouver school board's finances.
“The Vancouver board of education is either unable or unwilling to manage its resources to protect the interests of students, and we are interpreting this as an indication this board needs extra help,” MacDiarmid said in a press release.
School board chair Patti Bacchus recently sent a letter to parents warning it has to cut $18.12 million to address a funding shortfall for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Tyee reported.
MacDiarmid appointed provincial comptroller general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland as special advisor to “review the board's budget development process, benchmarks, financial forecasts and position, management capacity, administrative expenditures, and opportunities for economies of scale.”
Wenezenki-Yolland is to report back by May 31, giving the school board until June 30 to complete its budget process. The Vancouver board has a budget of $443.1 million for next year, which the government says is an increase despite falling enrolment.
School boards have had to absorb many costs downloaded by the provincial government, said NDP leader Carole James.
“People are elected to school board to help provide quality education to kids,” she said. “They're doing this job because they care about kids. It's about time the minister sat down and had a conversation with them about how she could do the same.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Name
2 years ago
I hope the minister has a lot of special advisors
So what about all the other local boards around BC which are all reporting the identical budget crises?
Richmond, Burnaby, New West, North Van, Coquitlam, Surrey, Delta, Langley, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge, Mission, Abbotford, Kamloops, Vernon, North, Central & S. Okangan, Kootenays, Cariboo Chilcotin, Prince George, Prince Rupert, North Island, Campbell River, Comox Valley, Nanaimo, Alberni, Ucluelet, Victoria, Saanich, Sooke...
Vancouver's $18 million deficit, BTW, is 3% of its total budget, the exact same ratio facing the Central Okanagan SD, for example, which is being forced to cut $4.7 million.
And we all know of course that Central Okanagan is a veritable hotbed of socialist-activist-partisan-whining-Lr Mainland-city-slickers who are just making it all up - NOT!
Name
2 years ago
Check out this site
This website has links to local webpages showing the budget crisis facing local school boards all around the province due to provincial underfunding.
http://stopeducationcuts.org/
verso
2 years ago
...
Quote:
“The Vancouver board of education is either unable or unwilling to manage its resources to protect the interests of students, and we are interpreting this as an indication this board needs extra help,”
What a condescending twit.
DPL
2 years ago
What stupid comments by a so
What stupid comments by a so called educated woman who in real life was a MD.
Gordo doesn't like school boards so of course the minister doesn't like school boards so hire somebody else to try to show the board in wrong, then start doing the same at other schools.
RossK
2 years ago
Thanks Very Much, Name....
....For putting things in context.
Based on the province wide, district-by-district, shortfall, is it reasonable to assume that the VSB is being made an example of?
.
Dungeness_Crab
2 years ago
On Monday, May 3rd
We will be protesting these education funding cuts at the VAG north lawn with two bands, a children's choir and a marching band starting from the CBC building and proceeding to the Art Gallery, bright and early.
This protest is focused on cuts to the music programs for students, but encompasses the whole of the Campbell government's fiscal contempt for education in this province.
I urge anyone who can attend to please do so. Book off a Monday for a good cause, if you can. Looking forward to seeing you there!
circle A
2 years ago
to quote a realtor...
and a westside one at that,though she was referring to the hst,but applies equally to all things campbell,"you made your bed, you lie in it"
DJT
2 years ago
Unbelievable...
Like the saying goes, "the best defense is a good offense".
Adam M
2 years ago
Oh Margaret
She's in a weak riding, probably already knows she's in for it next election, and she's on the hit list recall-wise, if that ever materializes. Probably doesn't care.
crankypants
2 years ago
Pardon me
Pardon me, but shouldn't the BC Liberal party get its own house in order before they attempt to impose their lack of business acumen onto others.
Wasn't it less than a year ago that Gordo and Co. stated that the deficit would be $495 million maximum and that BC was immune to the global recession.
It seems that their track record leaves a little bit to be desired. Now they want to impose their ineptitude onto other governing bodies. What a joke.
Maybe it's time that the BC Liberal party quit trying to find fall guys outside their inner circle and dealt with the ineptitude they have within.
alive
2 years ago
"me drive!"
Well Gordo also want to "organize " the hospitals, because they do not manage with the monies allocated.
Why does he assume that an outsider has a better understanding than those who work at it ever day?
freebear
2 years ago
Good for the 'advisor' economy
Usually this comes before a directorship!
W Laurier
2 years ago
Don't worry....
I am sure at the 11th hour Patty Baccus will ride in on her white charger and save the day and keep the little children from facing the peril of Snidely Whiplash, oops, Gordon Campbell.
She'll get her cred and run for premier, too.
Ramona777
2 years ago
Amalgamate School Boards, Dump Trustees
The three school trustees that represent me are: a schoolteacher that doesn't live in the area; the wife of a schoolteacher; a retired union rep.
With representation like that, it makes you wonder that
just maybe school boards aren't be running efficiently, impartially and intelligently.
There has to be change, starting with eliminating $100,000+ salaries for dozens of school superintendents, sec/treas, etc. as well as ensuring school trustees who don't have private agendas are making the decisions.
W Laurier
2 years ago
Ramona!
Sacrilege! All school trustees are only interested in the welfare of the little children by preventing Gordon Campbell from chaining nine year old to train tracks.
Not one of them has a political agenda, especially COPE rising star Patty Baccus.
Polakite
2 years ago
I'm sure Langley could use one...
Thing is, that Second Coming of Christy Clark of a local MLA is going to have to sign off on that missile's... paperwork.
Perhaps one should ask why the cost pressures with fewer students?
One should also ask why is the MLA who's the Minister doing not so good in QP instead of Mary Polak, Kevin Falcon or even Gordon Campbell?
One should also ask IF the Premier and Cabinet have the balls for another Core Services Review? To quote the Premier just so we're clear what I hope for,
"Our core services review asked fundamental questions of government: Is this a service that government should be undertaking? If it is a service that government should be undertaking, are we doing it in the most cost-effective manner? Have we examined the results the programs have delivered?
"Those are fundamental questions I believe we should be asking consistently. They had not been asked for too long a time in British Columbia. Too often the answers to questions that were put to the government of British Columbia involved more dollars, more programs and less in terms of results. As a result, we had an economy over the last decade that underperformed every provincial economy in the country."
SOURCE: http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/media_gallery/speeches/2002/jan/government_begins_threeyear_restructuring_2002_01_17_48272_o_1.html
Name
2 years ago
Tried voting, Ramona?
Don't blame the trustees whom your commnunity chooses to elect - blame yourself, Ramona. If they're incompetent get up and run against them, like Patti did.
Maybe then you could persuade the Minister to appoint a special adviser for your district too. The last time that happened in Vancouver, it turns out the "special advice" was for the Province to cough up more money because Vancouver's fiscal problems were very real.
The parents in Gordo's riding have been cooking up a storm about losing resources for their Mini-Schools and special programs, so I guess it's the squeaky wheel gets the grease again. This government only ever responds when you embarrass them enough in the media or when it affect's Gordo's own constituents, sadly.
Ramona777
2 years ago
Name
Unlike my trustees, I have a moral compass. Because of my occupation, it would be morally wrong for me to run.
I vote in every election though.
The problem is an uninformed, lazy electorate who when it comes to elections, merely go with name recognition.
W Laurier
2 years ago
Patti Baccus
Patti is a really class act. Picking a fight with the government and calling for her boss's resignation is really a way to win friends with the education ministry.
The fact remains that the VSB has had its budget increased. Patti has just made up a wish list and and then played politics with it. Now the minister is taking charge, as is her mandate.
Look at the numbers:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/k12funding/funding/10-11/estimates/welcome.htm
Really, Gregor needs to run a tighter ship if he wants to remain mayor.
Fred Regan
2 years ago
Bully Pink Shirt Effect
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
Bluenozer
2 years ago
RCA
Poor Margaret suffers from Rectal Cranial Inversion,known as Head Up Your Arse Syndrome.
G West
2 years ago
Simple remedy
Stop wasting public money on private schools and you'll free up more than 150 million bucks a year.
brg61
2 years ago
Local Boards Are Needed
I feel the VSB/Prov disagreement shows our system is working. Bacchus was elected to protect public schools; MacDiarmid's job demands clear eyes on public funds.
It seems MacDiarmid's govt wore blindfolds as the conv.ctr & P3's went billions in debt. If Bclibs had "extra help" on how to "manage resources", the VSB wouldn't have lost $18.2m. MacDiarmid's nasty words should be aimed at her colleagues.