The Vancouver School Board may have to defer making its budget decisions for 2015-2016 by April 30 as planned as a result of newly announced Ministry of Education requirements.
Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced in a press release Friday that the VSB would have to submit a budget that demonstrates that the board has responded to recommendations made by the special adviser the government appointed, to the ministry on or before June 15.
The provincial School Act requires school boards to submit balanced budgets to the ministry by June 30, but the VSB usually adopts its budget April 30 to advise unions and administrators about staffing changes for September before the summer break.
“We are still in the process of seeking further clarification of the ministerial order of March 20,” VSB secretary-treasurer Rick Krowchuk told the Courier in an email Monday night. “However, at this time, it would appear that the intended approval of the budget by the board on April 30 would need to be deferred.”
The ministry is proceeding with a review by its special adviser, EY, which could cost $180,000. The VSB is proceeding with a review by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which will cost $75,000.
For more information, see a longer story posted Friday at vancourier.com.
Band and strings
The latest report on the elementary band and strings program for a March 25 committee meeting outlines three strategies for retaining the program and their related cost savings.
The Vancouver School Board considered eliminating the elementary band and strings program last April to save $630,651, but trustees granted the program a year’s reprieve to give the board and the community time to find a way to make the program cost neutral to the VSB.
The VSB contracted former associate superintendent Valerie Overgaard to lead a review and consultation process, and Overgaard reported in February that short of eliminating district staffing provided to the optional program, there was no single solution that would completely reduce the costs of district staffing.
The VSB covers the cost of the equivalent of eight full-time teachers, beyond school-based staffing allocations, to teach band or strings to 2,800 students at 51 of 76 elementary schools.
One strategy sees the board offering band or strings to fewer grades. Band could be offered to Grades 6 or 7 students only, eliminating band in Grade 5, and strings could be taught to Grades 5 to 7 students, cutting strings for Grade 4. Such changes could see the reduction of the equivalent of 2.8 district staff for a savings of $206,052.
Another strategy sees school-based employees offering band or strings during preparation time. Band or strings would fulfill the requirement for the music portion of fine arts curriculum to all students in Grades 6 and 7 for band, Grades 5 to 7 for strings, for a cost savings of $73,590.
The monthly user fee of $2.50 per month for band and strings could be increased to $5 if the program remains optional. The report roughly estimates doing so could save the district $45,000.
The report states any or all of the strategies could be implemented for September 2015 and allow for the continuation of a band and strings option in schools with existing programs, while beginning the transition to piloting a prep time model.
Another report with recommendations is to go to the VSB’s education and student services committee, April 15.
Maureen Ciarniello, associate superintendent for learning services, wasn’t able to speak to the Courier before press time.
The VSB reported Overgaard doesn’t have a consulting fee she can disclose at this time.
crossi@vancourier.com
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