A long list of speakers urged the Delta school board Tuesday not to shut down the cafeteria teaching program at Delta Secondary.
An overflow crowd of teachers, parents as well as current and past students attended the board's budget meeting in Ladner hoping to convince trustees of the importance of the program, several describing how it opened opportunities and changed their lives.
Several said it's a valuable program for a diverse group of students, ranging from special needs to those who are academic achievers, but the district cites low enrollment as the rational to eliminate it.
At the beginning of the meeting, board chair Laura Dixon said just 40 students are enrolled in the program for next year, but added the district wants to hear ideas.
Closing the program would result in $25,000 in savings and the district likely contracting out food services, as was the case at North Delta Secondary.
The board is faced with a $3.28 million shortfall for next year, so is looking to balance the budget through a variety of cuts and the use of surplus funds. Cutting the cafeteria program at the Ladner high school has caused the greatest uproar.
"What we have seen in the past is private companies went to the schools and agreed to meet guidelines at the beginning of their relationship, but quickly defer to cheaper, ready-to-eat fast food that builds their bottom line," said Trevor Randle, an instructing chef in the Maple Ridge district.
Madison Tani, a Grade 11 student at DSS, said if it were not for the program, she wouldn't be able to pursue her passion for cooking.
Noting the experience she gained enabled her to get employment and quickly move forward in her culinary training, former student Mariko Winthrope said axing the program also means closing down many students' passion and dreams.
Recent grad Hailey Myles said the course has many benefits, including teaching skills that got her a work experience position in the restaurant industry.
Ian Adamson, a teacher in the district, said it's a great program for the dozen special needs students enrolled, providing them useful roles in the kitchen to learn independence.
Gerald Worobetz, a teaching chef at South Delta Secondary, told the board many are becoming interested in the food industry, so it makes little sense to scrap the cost-effective program.
"It's so valuable. To even consider closing the program completely is shameful from my perspective," he said.
Many of the speakers had high praise for Lori Pilling, the teacher-chef in charge of the program. She presented the board with a petition that had just under 1,000 names.
Almost all the speakers at Tuesday's budget meeting talked about the DSS program, including Delta Farmers' Institute president David Ryall and former MLA Val Roddick, both saying local farmers support the program, which promotes healthy food choices.
Saying savings could be found elsewhere in the district, Delta Teachers' Association president Paul Steer had several suggestions, including reducing the number of senior management positions, which Steer noted is something the school board always wants to avoid. His other suggestions included freezing travel and accommodation expenses for the board and staff, as well as reducing spending on some discretionary learning initiatives.
The money for many of those initiatives comes from a special reserve fund, but parent Brad Sherwin noted that fund has been padded with budget surpluses the school district ended up with in recent years. He said those surpluses have come on the backs of students and other programs.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the budget next Tuesday.
