The number of special education assistants will be slashed in the Delta School District to help make up a projected deficit of just over $2 million.
The proposed 2017-18 operating budget, which will be open for public input at a Delta board of education meeting next Tuesday, includes reducing the number of EAs in the district from 324 to 296.
A few other reductions are also proposed, as well as using increased revenues from the International Student Program and Continuing Education and $500,000 from reserves, in an effort to balance the books.
The deficit is a result of a budget shortfall of just over $900,000 being carried forward from last year, increases to teaching and support staff salaries, increases in employee benefits and unfunded salary increases for exempt staff, including principals and vice-principals. The district is still in the red despite a $1.1 million increase in operating grant funding.
Secretary-treasurer Joe Strain said the reason behind the reduction in EAs is that the number of special needs students, for the first time in several years, is projected to decrease.
Those students bring additional funding from the province but the reduction in special needs pupils will mean a reduction of over $1 million in funding for that area.
He explained that part of the budget is separate from the teacher funding allocation, which will see an increase in teaching staff thanks to the Supreme Court ruling in favour of B.C. teachers last fall and a subsequent agreement the provincial government reached with the teachers' union. About $1.87 million in new money is projected for Delta to address class size and composition provisions in that agreement.
Strain said the exact dollar amount, how many teachers and where they will be allocated won't be worked out until September when the district has its enrollment numbers and a clearer idea of classroom needs.
After years of decline, enrolment in Delta has stabilized and is projected to grow by almost 100 students next year, bringing the total to around 15,300.
Next Tuesday's budget input meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the district office in Ladner.
The board will vote on the budget May 2.
