The Delta school board stands by everything it's done to advocate for increased funding for the education system.
Chair Laura Dixon defended the board's record during public submissions Tuesday on the upcoming budget in response to a suggestion by teachers it should be doing more.
Delta Teachers' Association president Paul Steer, the first speaker, said the B.C. School Trustees Association has been advocating for better resources and funding, so Delta should add to the call.
"Your own representative body, the BCSTA, has done as much, so it is incumbent upon you not to remain silent and to add your individual and collective voices in support of public education, this very essential part of the government's realm of responsibility," Steer said.
He said teachers are urging the board to adopt a policy of "constructive adversarial engagement" against the government's policies.
Steer said the district should also begin planning now to integrate the recent B.C. Supreme Court ruling in favour of teachers, ordering the restoration of previous class size and composition limits.
Dixon was quick to respond, saying through the BCSTA the Delta board has participated in issues regarding public education. She also said through a provincial council she spoke directly to the education minister about cost pressures.
"The board has never shied away from its responsibilities to participate in the core review or any other ministry process. The BCSTA has been a strong, effective advocate on our behalf," Dixon said.
"We stand by our record for support for public education, we stand by record of support for all the people that work in our district, and we stand by our record of putting our interest for students first."
Dixon's support for the BCSTA came despite a motion earlier in the meeting by trustee Dale Saip, who wants Delta to withdraw from the association. That motion will be debated at the next school board meeting.
CUPE Local 1091 president Colin Pawson and parent Brad Sherwin were the only others to make presentations Tuesday.
Pawson suggested the board not bother undertaking a satisfaction survey, noting it would find low morale because employees are having a harder time doing their jobs properly due to cuts.
Sherwin asked the board to explore every opportunity to obtain additional grants and that those monies be directed to the transportation budget.
Still dealing with declining enrollment, the district recently stated this year's budget process would be challenging, which suggests more cuts are on the way.
It's faced with additional costs in a number of areas, including the CUPE settlement and a B.C. Hydro rate increase.
Good news didn't come from the provincial government's latest budget, which provided no new money for the K-12 system.
Last year the board made $1.9 million in cuts to balance the books, the most contentious being the reduction of bus service.
District staff will release budget recommendations on April 11. A meeting to hear public input on those recommendations will take place at the school board office April 15. A week later, on April 22, the board is to consider approving the budget.
