KEYNOTE SPEAKER | Leah Goldstein to inspire at girls volleyball fundraising banquet [A12]
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Friday, February 27, 2015
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Officials anxious over cuts
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RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
The Vernon School District is still preparing for cuts but firm details are lacking. The recent provincial budget indicated that all B.C. school boards must trim administration costs and that will mean $850,000 over two years for the Vernon district. “I’m not sure where they think the cuts will Joe Rogers come from,” superintendent Joe Rogers told trustees Wednesday. “We’re quite anxious about it.” One of the challenges, according to Rogers, is the government hasn’t defined what it considers administration. “Does it mean transportation cuts? Does it mean cuts at the board office?” he said. Rogers added that the Vernon district has fewer administrative positions than other jurisdictions and any reductions could impact the ability to provide services. School districts expect to find out March 13 what funding they will receive from the provincial government for the next school year. However, officials aren’t waiting until then to express their concerns to the Ministry of Education. We are asking the hard questions and hoping for answers,” said Rogers. While the provincial government has absorbed the cost of staff wage increases, districts have been left to deal with other higher costs, such as Medical Services Plan premiums. “We’re quite shocked,” said Kelly Smith, board chairperson, of the financial situation. Like Rogers, Smith isn’t sure what the next round of reductions will mean for the district. “Looking at everything we do to administer schools and we have to cut back 20 per cent,” she said.
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Kara Buechert (above), six, practises her CPR as she takes the free CPR training with her mom Jenn Buechert at the 27th annual Project Save-A-Life put on by Silver Star Rotary and Vernon Fire and Rescue Saturday at Clarence Fulton Secondary. Vernon firefighter Guido Reichlin (left) shows the class how to use a pocket mask.
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