05) B.C. SCHOOL BOARDS "SHOULD CONSIDER DEFICIT BUDGETS"

            School boards across British Columbia face huge budget shortfalls this spring, due to the impact of extra costs downloaded by the Liberal provincial government. Compelled by law to bring in "balanced" budgets, many boards are reducing the numbers of teachers and support staff.

            The following is from a presentation at the Vancouver School Board's budget consultations, by Jane Bouey and Gwen Giesbrecht, co-chairs of the Vancouver Public Education Project, which is "dedicated to defending, promoting and enhancing public education." Bouey was elected to the VSB in 2002 and 2008, serving the latter term as deputy chair. Giesbrecht is a former president of the city's Parent Advisory Council.

            The proposed VSB budget is an effort to mitigate an untenable situation. Over a decade of provincial underfunding continues. The next three years portend more of the same. Is this deliberate? Is the intention to undermine confidence in public education ‑ our society's single most valuable social institution? Your Board is not to blame, but it will bear the burden imposed by a cynical government.

            Some recommendations are palatable. Cancelling membership in the BC School Trustees Association and not adding to District Parent Advisory Council's existing funds for the next year are two.

            But many recommendations will disproportionately affect vulnerable students. Eliminating an Educational Psychologist will, as stated "... increase the waitlists for psycho‑educational assessments." Cuts such as the Speech and Language pathologist, the Anti‑Racism and Literacy mentors, two SACY positions, the English Language Learner consultant, Britannia Secondary cafeteria worker, the District Athletics Coordinator, Multicultural Liaison worker may be minimal, but the impact will be large.

            The arts are vital for a full and rich education. In this proposed budget the entire elementary Band and Strings Program could be axed. The Board could increase the annual fee for the band and strings program to $25 a month. For families able to afford $250 a year per child, access to music could be available. This restriction is contrary to the purposes and spirit of a public system. Such "access" already exists. It's called private music lessons.

            This budget proposes more cuts to Maintenance services to save about half a million dollars. Those who spend time in Vancouver schools know that they are shabby and not painted regularly.

            How has this happened? It is the consequence of the province downloading expenses onto local school boards. Recently, Victoria put boards on notice that they may need to pay for half the cost of capital projects and seismic upgrades. These abrupt and unilateral directives show contempt for local planning and have a destabilizing impact on all operations.

            There is still money in the budget to support the vast array of computer technology that is now a key part of school infrastructures. Both the initial expenses and those in this budget have been downloaded onto local boards by the province. The system absolutely requires the use of computers but refuses to fund it...

            Technology expenses eat up a huge amount of capital. The 6,000 computers purchased by the Board in 2009 are now nearing their fifth birthday and need to be replaced by modern tools, says the Board, at a cost of $720,000. Five years young and already obsolete. This infrastructure cost out of operating funds will be needed in perpetuity.

            The Vancouver Board of Education has had to put a stark and bleak budget proposal on the table. Its response should be equally stark, but not so bleak.

            The single most important part of the board's response should be loud, evidence‑based, hard‑hitting advocacy with a detailed plan that makes good use of all trustees in their role as leaders.

            It should ignite public awareness and engagement and media interest about the reality of the provincial government's abrogation of responsibility for public education.

            Government has ignored our pleas for 13 years. Now, it is time for more pressure. The Board should consider creating and submitting a deficit budget rather than passing a balanced, inadequate, harmful and irresponsible budget.

            Perhaps the Board ought to operate the schools the way they should be run, until the money runs out. And then? Shut it down. Simply refuse to preside over the demise of the Public Education.

            Either scenario would leave the Board in very difficult circumstances. You could be fired, it has happened. But consider the opportunity to mobilize for the November municipal election when we could place public education at the center of the civic agenda.

            Well‑funded, stable, valued public schools are good for the whole community ‑ not a political add‑on.

            But the current reality is a freeze on capital spending; three years of upcoming, compounded cuts until 2017 and ongoing harm to the one system that provides the best opportunities for everyone.

            It is time to put the provincial government on the hook. This strategy just might do it.

(The above article is from the May 1-15, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)