Schools may face 'dramatic cuts'
Burnaby Now
Jennifer Moreau
September 05, 2009

…School district spokesperson Jodie Wilson said it was too early to comment on what the budget would mean for Burnaby schools, but Susan Lambert, the B.C. Teachers' Federation vice-president, said it will force school boards to make "dramatic cuts."….

Lambert said the budget did not cover increasing hydro costs, teachers' salaries and MSP premiums, all of which will put more financial pressure on school boards.

Prior to the budget, the Education Ministry announced $110 million in cut facilities grants, money used for the upkeep of schools. Many districts were expecting the money and already paid for repairs and upgrades over the summer, costs, Lambert said that will likely have to come out of their operating budgets….

Another major change is with the CommunityLINK program, an initiative that helps pay for programs that feed kids and provides support for at-risk students.

Money for that program will now come out of gaming funds instead of the $33 million from the Education Ministry's purse.

An old idea to bring in all-day kindergarten for five-year-olds is also on the table again.

The provincial government has allocated $151 million over two years towards full day kindergarten. That money will start flowing to districts in 2010/11, the same year full-day kindergarten is supposed to start.

But Lambert is saying that's too late.

"There's no new funding this year to start planning and developing curriculum or securing space. We could be looking at another broken promise and more disappointment a year from now," she said.

Marianne Neill, president of the Burnaby Teachers' Association, said the cut facilities grants will affect students as boards might not be able to properly keep school buildings safe or accessible to people with disabilities.

"This is not to mention the impact on the board of cutting funds that have already been allocated in the budget, and in many cases already spent," she added. …

Neill is also expecting further cuts to public education in the spring budget, when districts find out how much money they will get for the upcoming school year.