Ring king Gordy Racette aims to make
history in a boxing career that spans five decades. PAGE 26
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015
www.nanaimobulletin.com
VOL. 27, NO. 3
Support staff cut in schools budget I THREE TEACHER positions cut due to declining enrolment. BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
KARL YU/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Liz DeMattia, Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society executive director, left, and Amie Oxler, society outreach educator, gaze through a microscope at the society’s science studio at Departure Bay Elementary School. DeMattia is prepping for the Catalyst gala, where she will have to present to a Dragon’s Den-like panel for $50,000 of support.
Science society vying for social enterprise award BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
The Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society is looking to emerge victorious in a Dragon’s Den-style competition on Wednesday (May 20). The society, which aims to inspire children to take an interest in science and sustainability, is one of three social enterprise finalists from Vancouver Island selected to take part in the 2015 Social Enterprise Catalyst Gala.
According to Liz DeMattia, society executive director, it stands to win cash and in-kind support totalling $50,000-plus, if successful. DeMattia said a coach, Jill Doucette, has been provided to assist with working on the pitch. She didn’t want to give away too much information on the presentation and how the money would be spent if the society won, as the two are related. She said the presentation relates to “stepping stones”
to get to the society’s longterm goal of a science centre in Nanaimo. It currently operates a science studio at Departure Bay Elementary School. “I will discuss where [the society] started from, where we are currently and where we hope to go, with their help,” DeMattia said. CBC show Dragon’s Den sees entrepreneurs making a proposal to a panel of judges in the hopes of securing money. See ‘COACH’ /3
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Cuts to education support workers and preliminary planning for a school gym are among items in the Nanaimo school district’s budget for 2015-16. The school board approved a budget totalling $133.8 million on Wednesday, with trustees Jamie Brennan, Noah Routley and Tania Brzovic voting against. Reductions to custodial and maintenance workers were part of initial budget discussions, but the school district found money to save eight positions, including $200,000 that had been earmarked for a Nanaimo District Secondary School project. A p p ro x i m a t e l y t h re e teacher positions were cut due to declining enrolment and attrition. Seven custodial positions will be cut, along with approximately five maintenance and two grounds workers. The school district is projecting a surplus of $1.6 million for next year, although about $700,000 is already spoken for. It is something that didn’t sit well with Rob Zver, president of CUPE Local 606, the sup-
port workers’ union. “They didn’t need to make the necessary cuts this year to taking away services that are provided for the cleanliness and the safety of the students,” said Zver. “They also passed the two-week spring break, which affects only CUPE and only a handful of [teachers].” During budget consultations, the parent advisory council for École Hammond Bay expressed concerns about capacity of the school’s gym. The trustees allocated $25,000 for project planning, according to the school district. “The district will be working with the school, which already had been doing some work and that’s getting the ball rolling to make sure that in the near future, they do get the new gym that they’re hoping for. “It could very well be a review or in some sort of report because that’s the first step in making sure that we have what we need, so that we can get more money from the [Ministry of Education],” said Dale Burgos, school district spokesman. The school district was hit with a surprise expense of $434,000 for high-speed Internet upgrades from the province. As a result, a 10-per cent reduction on all non-instructional services and supplies will occur. reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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