Surrey school district: Jobs, programs will be cut
SURREY – Jobs will be lost and programs cut as Surrey’s school district tries to make the most of another short-change budget from Victoria announced earlier this week.
The provincial government kicked in an extra $5 million to cover the cost of a pay raise for teachers due this summer. “Our staff predictions were just about right on,” said school board chair Laurae McNally.
“They figured we’d be short about $17 million this year. The ministry has given us the $5 million for the teachers’ raise, but they’re not funding increased teachers’ pension plan contributions or increased MSP premiums.”
Those two costs alone add up to $4.1 million for the 2010-11 fiscal year and there are others the budget allocation won’t cover. All in all, the district budget is about $12 million shy of what’s needed, McNally said.
“So really, the amount we’re short is too great to allow the district to avoid eliminating jobs and programs,” she said. “We’re left with a $12-million problem.” The Ministry of Education notes it has increased education funding to nearly $4.7 billion this year, up $112 million over the previous year.
All the same, Surrey’s allocation – about $525 million – is still not enough to maintain the status quo. Since provincial laws don’t allow school districts to run deficit budgets, the shortfall must be found by cutting costs in what is already B.C.’s most efficiently run district.
District administration in Surrey accounts for a paltry 2.1 per cent of the budget and more than 86 per cent is spent on classroom instruction. The rest goes to transportation and maintenance. With spending pared to the bone already, the district is left with little wriggle room when it comes to saving money.
The outlook isn’t good. “Our budget committee meets Monday to try and figure out what we’re going to do,” McNally said. “Undoubtedly there will be jobs lost and program cuts, but where and how many I can’t say right now.”
tcolley@thenownewspaper.com
The provincial government kicked in an extra $5 million to cover the cost of a pay raise for teachers due this summer. “Our staff predictions were just about right on,” said school board chair Laurae McNally.
“They figured we’d be short about $17 million this year. The ministry has given us the $5 million for the teachers’ raise, but they’re not funding increased teachers’ pension plan contributions or increased MSP premiums.”
Those two costs alone add up to $4.1 million for the 2010-11 fiscal year and there are others the budget allocation won’t cover. All in all, the district budget is about $12 million shy of what’s needed, McNally said.
“So really, the amount we’re short is too great to allow the district to avoid eliminating jobs and programs,” she said. “We’re left with a $12-million problem.” The Ministry of Education notes it has increased education funding to nearly $4.7 billion this year, up $112 million over the previous year.
All the same, Surrey’s allocation – about $525 million – is still not enough to maintain the status quo. Since provincial laws don’t allow school districts to run deficit budgets, the shortfall must be found by cutting costs in what is already B.C.’s most efficiently run district.
District administration in Surrey accounts for a paltry 2.1 per cent of the budget and more than 86 per cent is spent on classroom instruction. The rest goes to transportation and maintenance. With spending pared to the bone already, the district is left with little wriggle room when it comes to saving money.
The outlook isn’t good. “Our budget committee meets Monday to try and figure out what we’re going to do,” McNally said. “Undoubtedly there will be jobs lost and program cuts, but where and how many I can’t say right now.”
tcolley@thenownewspaper.com
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