Province injects millions into summer school amid cuts
Vancouver Courier
By Megan Stewart
July 13, 2010

The Vancouver School Board cut $17 million from its 2010/11 budget, laying off teachers and cutting programs, and it will consider school closures in the fall, but the Ministry of Education still pumped $4.7 million into Vancouver summer school to fund mostly recreation and prep classes.

Despite seeing “a big cut in everything” across the district, VSB chair Patti Bacchus says the summer program sends a “mixed message” to her board in light of the ministry’s demand that every service be maximized for generating revenue.

“They’re telling us to squeeze profit out of just about everything we can, regardless of the purpose it serves,” said Bacchus, pointing to childcare programs as one service she said the Ministry believes can turn a greater profit.

“But on the other hand, they’re offering up possibly programs that aren’t required toward graduation at no cost,” she said, adding that the board does not have a position on whether the summer programming should be funded by the Ministry of Education.

One in 10 classes offered through the VSB continuing education summer program is a core academic course such as senior math and English that is taken for credit and used toward graduation by teenagers and adults. Otherwise, the majority of classes are month-long elementary and secondary preparatory courses, not unlike summer camps available through community centres, and are led by professional teachers.

Classes tied to curriculum-based learning outcomes are free of charge, except for a $30 deposit, and range from art lessons, computer literacy, and core learning elements such as reading and writing to physical education classes, some of which have already been cancelled because of low enrollment….