The challenges facing SD 46 are familiar, with the board approving $2 million in cuts on June 4. The cuts represent a far higher proportion of services than Vancouver has had to cut, in the context of the district’s $35 million total district budget. The Board Chair noted that declining enrolment contributed to making the budget choices this year particularly tough
News
Coast Reporter: Budget cuts teachers, staff, admin positions
Jenny Wagler, staff writer
June 11, 2010
School District No. 46 (SD46)’s tight 2010/11 budget cuts $2 million in teacher, staff and administrator positions.
“We continue to not be able to afford the kind of supports that I think we’d like to have in our schools,” school board chair Silas White said at the Tuesday, June 4 meeting, where the board adopted the budget.
White said that declining enrolment is a significant factor behind the cuts, given that the Ministry of Education funds districts on a per pupil basis.
Next year’s budget totals $35.6 million, compared to this year’s amended annual budget of $37.2 million. Read more
Coast Reporter: Budget cuts hurt school kids
May 14, 2010
Letter to the Editor
While the 2010/2011 budget for the school district is not official, it is apparent that deep cuts have had to be made in order to present a balanced budget to the ministry. All over the district, teachers are reeling at the impact these cuts will have in the classroom, and they are wondering how it can be “business as usual” next September.
Several programs and services will not be available to students next year. Read more
Coast Reporter: Unions warn of cuts to libraries, Special Ed
Jenny Wagler, Staff writer
May 14, 2010
Union presidents for the Coast’s teachers and school support staff are warning Coast parents to expect serious cutbacks to schools’ library services and special education support in the fall.
School District No. 46 (SD46) superintendent Deborah Palmer said while the district is still in the midst of 2010/11 budget planning, individual schools have completed their preliminary budgets, pending September’s final enrolment figures.
And Sunshine Coast Teachers’ Association president Jenny Garrels and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 801 president Carolyn Smith said parents should brace for cuts. Read more
Coast Reporter: Admin postings announced by SD46
Jenny Wagler, Staff writer
April 23, 2010
School District No. 46 (SD46) has cut one principal position at Sechelt Elementary School, plus reduced administrative hours and down-graded principal positions to vice-principal positions at newly-annexed Davis Bay Elementary School, Madeira Park Elementary School, and Langdale Elementary School, starting this fall.
Assistant superintendent Tom Hierck said amalgamating Sechelt Elementary into Kinnikinnick next year has cut one administrative position, and reducing administrative hours at the annexes by nearly half has cut a second.
“Overall, with the plan moving forward, we’ve reduced the equivalent of two full-time administrators, so that’s a significant savings in the budget,” he said. Read more
Coast Reporter: Board makes Davis Bay a K-5 school
Jenny Wagler, Staff writer
April 9, 2010
School District 46 (SD46) board voted Tuesday night to amalgamate Davis Bay Elementary School’s Grade 6 and 7 populations into Kinnikinnick this fall, leaving Davis Bay as a K-5 school.
District superintendent Deb-orah Palmer launched the discussion by recapping a meeting held two weeks previously with Davis Bay parents to discuss the potential amalgamation of the school’s 18 Grade 6 and 7 students. Palmer listed the key reasons SD46’s administrative staff have been recommending the amalgamation: to create larger peer groups and teacher choice for students and to increase students’ access to resources, extra curricular activities and sports league play.
She also noted some of the concerns which Davis Bay parents raised at the meeting, including the possibility that parents with Grade 6 and 7 students being amalgamated might choose to also move their younger children to Kinnikinnick, further reducing Davis Bay’s population. Read more
