Since June of last year SD73 has been holding public meetings that came from a report that suggested the board close buildings to save money. The reconfiguration reported listed 11 elementary schools and two high schools that could close as early as the 2011 school year.
Glover said three years ago the board decided it was time to create a strategic plan in hopes to stop the piecemealing effect of problems. Essentially, they had been operating too long under a quick-fix mentality.
“We had 35 meetings and out of that we ended up closing three schools,” explained Annette Glover, chair of the finance and planning committee.
At the public meetings board trustees heard from school communities who had rallied together to state their case for staying open. Not everyone would be satisfied with the result, but the announced changes affect far fewer people than originally expected.
Glover said that because not as much money was saved with the closures and reconfigurations, that in order to balance the budget the next thing to cut is jobs because they’re still left with a deficit of $1.5-to $2-million.
“I repeatedly said publicly that whatever we do not do through reconfiguration we will absolutely be doing through the budget process and that means labour because there’s no other choice,” she said.
SD73 is not alone; every district in the province is being faced with the same problems. Glover said it’s too early to predict how many teachers will lose jobs, but teacher lay-off notices have to be given May 30.
Until then it’s just a waiting game.
After hearing from a board representative, do you think there are options that would help the board save money that may have been overlooked?
