DERBY BOUT COMING TO QUESNEL PAGE A3
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CROSSFIRE SUCCUMBS TO ASSAULT PAGE A18
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
VOL. 98 NO. 75
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Calcutta winner Mary Rogina, centre, pulled the $100 bill out of her raffle draw bag. Attendees paid $10 for a chance at one of 10 draw bags of which one contained the coveted $100 bill. Donella Martindale, left and Fay Dredge, right, were still happy with the contents of their draw bag. For more coverage of the Diamond Calcutta, including the diamond ring winner, see Friday’s Observer. Karen Powell photo
SD28 announces adjustments to balance budget AUTUMN MACDONALD Observer Reporter Despite School Board 28 predicting a drop in enrolment resulting in a budget shortfall of approximately $296,600, SD28 has balanced the budget. The annual budget bylaw is set at $40,880,881 and is broken down by fund as follows: •$36,461,533 operating, •$2,961,883 special purpose, •$1,457,465 capital. The board’s budget decisions were guided by their new Goals and Action Plan for 2011-2014.
“The board received a full range of input including the identification of difficulties beyond enrolment decline, challenges facing the board of education and other areas that the partners felt the board should address,” the press release states. “The board had conversations with the schoolbased Parent Advisory Council reps, the general public and employee groups.” The district noted higher participation levels and mixed, but constructive feedback. “The most common feed-
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back received was related to under-utilized facilities in the district,” the district release reads. “This feedback aligns with the board’s goal to form a Facilities Review Committee, starting in September 2012 to review all facilities in the district.” Traditionally the Board of Education aligns the Aboriginal Education budget to match the required targeted amount based on the enrolment of Aboriginal students. This year however, although Aboriginal student enrolment is expected to
decline, the board decided to maintain existing service levels to Aboriginal students in order to maintain the district’s focus on Aboriginal Education. Enrolment is projected to decline by 79 students to a total of 3,382.5 school aged FTE (including K – 12 and Distance Learning) for the 2012/13 school year. In order to balance the budget and meet program needs, the following adjustments are planned: • reduction in 3.5 fulltime equivalent (FTE) teaching positions ($306,600);
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• reduction in supplies for 79 FTE ($ 8,000); • reduction in BCeSIS expenses ($10,000); • reduction in equipment/repair expenses ($10,000); • reduction in learning resource expenses ($10,000); • increase 2.0 FTE education support workers $81,000; • reduction in technology expenses ($10,000); • reduction in Grad Transition Program expenses ($10,000); • reduction in District Growth Plan initiatives; • Literacy Substitutes
and Summer School Program ($13,000). Staffing adjustments will be accommodated through attrition and every effort will be made to minimize disruption at the school and department levels. “The board believes that this budget will provide sound educational programs for all students in the district.,” the release concludes. “The board is committed to continuing to work with all stakeholder and employee groups to advocate on behalf of students in our district.”
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