Trustees for the Vancouver School Board will make final decisions on where to slice $11.65 million from its 2014-2015 budget tonight.
Trustees are expected to decide whether all or a portion of the $585,000 the district recently received in holdback funds from the provincial government will go to saving the itinerant elementary band and strings program, which was slated to be cut from the budget to save $630,651.
Other proposed cuts opposed by parents, social service providers and representatives of employee associations include:
- A district athletic coordinator for a savings of $71,216.
- Two substance abuse prevention workers in schools for a savings of $127,000.
- One of two teachers at the alternative City School for a savings of $95,500 in salary and benefits.
- A Vietnamese and a South Asian multicultural liaison worker for a savings of $140,000.
- The continuing education program, for a savings of $514,410.
- Three of 27.4 elementary school area counsellor positions for a savings of $315,300.
- An education psychologist for a savings of $103,530.
- A gifted education consultant for a savings of $37,924.
- Three teacher mentors and a support staff mentor for a savings of $334,680.
The VSB must deliver a balanced budget to the province.
Senior management staff expect to spend approximately 92 per cent of the district’s $497.19 million budget for next year on salaries and benefits.
The board has had to cut $47 million over the past 12 years.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 1580 West Broadway.
