School District dismay at cuts
The Free Press (Fernie)
Oct 1 2009 
By: Gerry Warner

Southeast Kootenay School District 5 officials have come out swinging against the provincial government's recent funding cuts to education.

The funding cuts will hurt across the board according to School Board Chairman Frank Lento, Superintendent Bill Gook and Secretary-Treasurer Rob Norum as well as Trustees Trina Ayling, Chris Johns and Corey Mildenberger.

Parents are also concerned about the cuts, according to the District's Parent Advisory Committee (DPAC).

Board Chair, Frank Lento, pointed out that although operating grants to boards remain unchanged, the Board still faces other significant cost pressures….

"For example, we have to pay for MSP increases. We have to make infrastructure investments to be carbon neutral by next year. Heat, light, gas, taxes, inflation all go up, not down. It's a serious challenge to absorb these costs, especially when our budget has already been set for this year."

Five months into the fiscal year - without notice or consultation - Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid announced that the Ministry would not be providing the Annual Facilities Grant to districts this year, Lento said.

This funding which represents approximately $1.3 million of funding that was expected by School District 5 to fund needed repairs and improvements to schools including Health and Safety Upgrades (improvements related to indoor air quality, seismic vulnerability, traffic safety, and structural upgrades)….

This is a concern to parents, said interim DPAC President Tracy Adams. "SD 5 DPAC is currently assessing the impact of the recent gaming grants cutbacks. And further consultation with our membership is underway. SD 5 DPAC is, of course, very worried about the impact these cuts may have on our children and will be working with all other partner groups to minimize the impact to our children's education."

Trustee Chris Johns is more blunt in his assessment of the government's direction on education.

"On the one hand government speaks about not wanting to pass along debt to our students. But here they are undercutting the educational foundation for these same students," Johns points out. "A fully funded public education system is the most cost effective way to secure a child's future."…