Summary
The VSB has had to make $16 million in cuts to the public school system this year. Rising costs of education are not being covered by the Province, and it is not just the VSB: many other school boards in BC have a large defecit too. Continual budget cuts over the last decade mean that there are no places to cut without drastically affecting the quality of education for students. The situation is not predicted to improve over the next few years with the current provincial budget for education. Our "world class" public education system is in crisis.
Events in the news
Links to news reports and events on the BC Education Coalition website
Trustee's Advocacy page of the VSB website.
Download Press release from Gordon/Shaughnessy April 20th rally written by a Gordon parent.
Background information
The Education Ministry employed a Special Advisor to recommend places where money could be saved/better managed within the VSB.
Special Advisor's report here. (90 page pdf file).
Response to the report by a a parent from BC Education Coalition.
Trustees response to the Special Advisor's report, point-by-point.
CBC interview with Patti Bacchus, Chair of the VSB, responding to the report.
On June 10th the Education Minister requested that the VSB submit their budget by June 19th for her approval, and that it includes the recommendations of the Special Advisor's report.
Response by the VSB Trustees to the Minister’s request.
In terms of budget cuts, we are back where we were before the special advisor was appointed to looking at the VSB budget. Drastic cuts are being made to the BC public education system.
Please write letters
Write to your MLA , Premier and Education Minister, to voice concerns of budget cuts to public education (Point Grey MLA is gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca or premier@gov.bc.ca)
Sample letter 1 from a parent. Sample letter 2 from the VSB. Sample letter 3 from DPAC. Sample letter 4 from a parent.
Postcard Campaign from Shaughnessy Elementary - print and send: Postcard in English. Postcard in Chinese.
