District faces more cuts in the future; SD 68 forecasts deficit for 2010-11
The Daily News (Nanaimo)
Jun 22 2009
By: Robert Barron

A shorter school year and bus fees are cost-cutting measures being considered by Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district trustees as they anticipate another budget crunch next year.

The district has just finished balancing its current budget, but staff members are already preparing for difficult choices for the 2010-11 budget.

The district's $122-million budget for the coming school year, finalized last month, cut 21 teaching and support positions, funding to assist with meal programs in schools and other programs to deal with a $2.1-million deficit.

But with a projected shortfall of another $1.4 million in 2010-11, and fewer places to cut from, the district's business committee is already looking for areas where cost efficiencies can be found in future years.

The first two areas under consideration are changes to the school calendar, which could mean a shorter school year but longer school days, and changes to the district's bus service which could involve transportation fees for the first time….

Jamie Brennan, chairman of the business committee, said the district is "down to the bones" for finding places to cut costs….