Trustees fear for their future following Vancouver report
Nanaimo News Bulletin
By Jenn Marshall
June 10, 2010

Nanaimo school trustees worry a report that blames Vancouver school district’s budget deficit situation on mismanagement by its board could mean changes to the way public education is governed…

Wenezenki-Yolland’s recommendations, released last week, identify more than $11 million in “missed” savings and revenue opportunities, including closing schools, raising rental leases, cutting non-core education services such as junior kindergarten and more shared services with other districts…

Sharon Welch, vice-chairwoman of the Nanaimo school board, said that recommendation could lead to the province considering getting rid of school trustees.

“There’s certainly been speculation about the ministry centralizing things more strongly,” she said. “I think anybody who has been in the role of trustee understands what a huge time commitment it is. That local input and local advocacy is so important.”...

An example of the system breakdown is the province’s decision to withhold money for school repairs and renovations after trustees already started spending it, she added.

Kip Wood, president of the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association, said while the report found trustee decisions responsible for about $8 million of the deficit, there would still be a deficit even if trustees had closed schools and done other things recommended in the report.

Trustees play a vital role of advocates of public education, he said, adding he believes the report was commissioned to discredit trustees.

“I think school boards are still in existence because the ministry needs someone to blame,” he said. “I think Vancouver trustees did a good job.”….