Eliminating its 105-year-old continuing education program, cutting 10 days from the school for a third year, and reducing high school cafeteria costs are among proposals the Vancouver School Board is considering to manage its $4.68 million 2012/13 budget shortfall.
The proposals, which were produced by senior staff and must be approved by the board, were unveiled at a committee meeting Tuesday night.
The district will consult will the public and stakeholders next week before revised proposals are released April 24. The final vote on the budget is April 30.
Vancouver School Boards continuing education program launched in 1907, but it hasnt performed well financially in an increasingly competitive market. If its axed, it will save the district about $100,000 in 2012/13, while its estimated $150,000 could be earned in rental income of vacated space.
Board chair Patti Bacchus said shes not sure what the publics reaction will be to this recommendation.
These [courses] have been around for decades. Ive taken courses myself over the years, she said. I hear managements explanation that the market has changed and I can see that, but I havent really heard anything from the public.
If the board adopts a proposal to continue closing schools for an extra 10 days, it would save about $100,000 per day for a total of $1 million, mostly due to not bringing in replacement workers. Superintendent Steve Cardwell noted if this recommendation is approved, it will affect an under-employed group of workers. He also acknowledged the extra 16 to 23 minutes added to each school day isnt the same as having the 10 full days of classes. The board could, however, settle on fewer district closure daysseven, five or four, or even none at all.
Bacchus has mixed feelings.
The calendar is always a concern. We have feedback. Weve had a [parent] survey, but it was disproportionately filled out by families on the West Side. So theres still a bit of a question mark about the real impact of those days, she said. I heard both sides in discussions with parents. I would be interested in looking at something in betweeneven a five-day [closure] and hearing what that impact might be.
Cutting days to save money is becoming more common in school districts across B.C.
It really reflects this funding crunch weve all been under for several years, Bacchus said.
She added that shes particularly worried about a proposal to reduce cafeteria costs.
The district has 17 cafeterias11 operated by the school district, which are projected to run a $1.4 million deficit for 2011/12. The VSB-operated cafeterias in secondary schools also provide food to students in the School Meals Program funded through Community Link dollars, which are funds targeted for vulnerable students.
Senior staff have proposed trying to reduce the numbers of students who use the program in high school by being more clear about eligibility criteria, by charging Community Link a more realistic share of the costthe average price of meals is $5, but the VSB is only getting $3.30 from Community Linkand by cutting cafeteria staff hours to achieve the equivalent savings of two full-time equivalent positions. Total savings from these measures are estimated at $500,000.
Full budget proposals can be found on the school board website.
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