It is budget time for school districts.
School districts are struggling immensely!
Burnaby School District
“Just five years ago, the district was carrying millions of dollars in operating surpluses from one year to the next, but the district now expects to have only $43,795 in its reserves when the books are closed on the year this summer, according to an amended 2024/25 operating budget passed at a school board meeting last week.”
Surrey School District
“The Surrey Board of Education announced the district is facing a shortfall of $16 million dollars to pass a balanced budget for the 2025-2026 school year. This is due to provincial funding not keeping pace with inflationary pressures and years of population growth in Surrey.”
Vancouver School District
“Some Vancouver School Board trustees are sounding the alarm after they say the budget for the 2024-2025 school year fails to address key concerns.”
Why are they struggling so much?
“According to that 2021 data, BC allocates just 3 percent of its GPP to K-12 education, while Manitoba allocates 4.9 percent, Nova Scotia 4.4 percent, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island 4.2 percent, Quebec 4.1 percent, New Brunswick 4 percent, Ontario 3.8 percent and Alberta 3.3 percent. This smaller percentage means BC school boards have less funding available for student support and to provide up-to-date, adequate and safe school buildings.”
Our province is the LOWEST.
WTF BC!!!!
I really encourage parents to attend their school district’s budget meetings. Many of them are offered online. To understand what is happening in education, we need to understand budgets and budget decisions.
Here is a report done by the Vancouver DPAC Inclusive Education Working Group. This is some serious next level kick ass investigative work. Here is their report. This report reveals the decisions on funding, staffing and the decline in support leading to barriers. Really, really, well done!!!
Public Engagement Period
At many board meetings, you can submit your questions beforehand. School districts have a public engagement period where you can make submissions or present at the budget meeting. You can read the financial reports online.
If you go to the school district’s website, most likely in the board area, they will have a financial section.
You will see a preliminary budget and an amended budget link.
Budget conversations can get people really riled up. Resources are scarce, and everyone is fighting for crumbs.
Why this province doesn’t prioritize public education is beyond me.
Pay now or pay later.