midweek edition WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011
Vol. 102 No. 21 • Established 1908 • West
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Pants across America Whitecaps rewind
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Provincial cash injection buoys school district budget Budget shortfall drops to $8.8 million Naoibh O’Connor Staff writer
Vancouver teachers have been sent potential layoff notices for the 2011-12 school year.
photo Dan Toulgoet
The VSB’s projected $11.8 million budget shortfall has dropped to $8.8 million and could fall even further, according to updated financial information. On March 12, the Ministry of Education announced operating funding to school districts across B.C. will jump by $58 million to a total of $4.721 billion. Per-student funding across B.C. is climbing by an average $44 to $8,357, outgoing education minister Margaret MacDiarmid stated in Friday’s announcement, which came almost a week earlier than expected. George Abbott was named education minister Monday. “We’ve continually in-
creased funding to school districts since 2000/01 and I’m delighted to say we are providing a further increase to make full-day kindergarten available for all students,” MacDiarmid said in a press release. “The numbers speak for themselves, with 11 consecutive years of perpupil funding increases and a new record high next year of $8,357. Our government is committed to providing sound, sustainable funding to strengthen our education system and adapt it to meet evolving needs of students.” Per-student funding amounts for individual school districts vary. The $8,357 is a B.C. average that includes a base amount ($6,784) allocated to each student plus supplemental See TRUSTEES on page 4
Earthquake experience shakes up park board commissioner Commissioner questions city’s emergency preparedness and disaster plan Sandra Thomas Staff writer Coming back from a trip to New Zealand, which placed her right in the middle of that country’s recent earthquake, COPE park board commissioner Loretta Woodcock vowed to ensure Vancouver is
ready for a similar disaster. And after the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, she’s even more convinced we’re behind in preparation. “In coming back to Vancouver March 4, I felt that residents here are ill informed about earthquake preparedness,” Woodcock told the
Courier. The day after the New Zealand quake, Woodcock collected newspaper articles listing essential services, copies of which she gave to management at the park board and city. She is also asking for a review of the city’s emergency preparedness plan, including information on how well
equipped the city’s community centres are to handle a disaster. Woodcock said while emergency preparations take place behind the scenes, the city and provincial governments don’t always share their plans with the public. “Hopefully with the crisis in Japan it will encourage the public
and government to talk so that emergency response becomes a normal aspect of our everyday lives,” said Woodcock. Woodcock and her husband Brian were driving through Christchurch, New Zealand Feb. 22 when the earthquake hit. See CITY on page 4
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