School District 8 Final Budget: More kids, fewer teachers
By Nelson Daily Staff
By Suzy Hamilton, The Nelson Daily
The final figures are out for School District 8’s enrollment and teaching staff for the 2012-13 year.
There are 21.8 fewer teachers in the district compared to last year at this time when there were 327 teachers.
And enrollment is up by 122 students to 4,873, according to district’s Amended Budget accepted at the February Finance Committee.
This is cause for concern for retired elementary teacher Herb Couch, who attends board and finance meetings regularly.
“You can’t have teachers’ jobs lost without affecting the programs,” he said.
“You can’t put students first if you put teachers last.”
Couch is also critical of the Finance Committee’s “lack of transparency.” He said he has been trying to get these figures since September from the District.
“When someone asks how many fewer, full-time equivalent teaching positions there are, in this school year, trustees and Administration should know the answer and give the public the answer.
“They should, also, know what programs and services have been cut this school year.”
However, Secretary Treasurer of School District 8 Kim Morris said that the budget, numbers of students and teachers are in a state of flux throughout the year.
School districts are required to report to the Ministry of Education twice a year: Once by June 30 for the upcoming year and a final budget—or amended budget—by February 28.
“Teacher staffing is very fluid during the year,” said Morris. “The ministry staffing report as of September 30 was a snapshot.”
Nelson and District Teachers Association president Tom Newell finds the transparency “challenging”.
But he said, “the real issue is that there are fewer teachers for more kids,”
Newell said there are mandatory maximums for class sizes for Kindergarten (22), Grade 1-3 (24). When a class in this category exceeds the number, the school must deal with it.
But with the other grades, “there’s less support for the teachers in the classroom, the flexibility is gone. We are now above the provincial average in class size.”
Although some of the teaching loss is due to retirement, Newell says “retirements are irrelevant. It’s how many teachers are teaching kids.”
He is critical of the government: “The Liberals have not done a very good job of education . . ..Teachers are paying the price.”
Couch is concerned with the money that is now not spent on teaching salaries, some $2 million according to Morris.
“It goes into the overall pot,” she said.
Morris said the 2012-13 budget approach changed from last year. This year, schools decided what was the bare minimum they needed and the added on the “unique circumstances,” which are additional costs.
Schools have come up with a variety of strategies to meet their budgets she said.
The district also identified “achievement gaps,” she said, and put funds toward improving learning outcomes.
Both Newell and Couch acknowledge that times are tough for schools.
“I believe they are in a difficult situation and doing the best they can,” said Couch. “But they have to be transparent.
“Our School Board should not be afraid to give the public honest, accurate information.”
School District 8 encompasses communities north to Argenta, east to Yahk, north to Slocan City and south to Salmo.
