Letter/Education

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To the Editor:

By the time you read this, the Bluewater District School Board is likely to have finalized its budget, but problems remain.

The funding formula needs work. For example, Elgin Market elementary school in Kincardine is full - actually so full as to trigger an accommodation review. Yet it costs the board money to operate on a net operating cost basis: $60,000 in the 2009-2010 year. We need to solve problems like this.

For the upcoming year - cutting about $4 million from a budget of about $200 million will take its toll. The schools will be under stress.   At the time of writing of this letter - there is an uncertain future for both the Grade 7/8 Tech Centres and the Supervised Alternative Learning Centres (SAL or SALEP). 

We do not have money to reinstate the full TRAIL program for gifted students that used to exist a few years ago. Our students need these programs.

Also, we don't know how the government's initiative to limit school fees is going to be funded or what its effects will be. A great idea, but this could quite easily be our biggest difficulty in 2011-2012.

There are more storms clouds for the future. With a declining enrolment grant that is projected to run out in the next few years, and further planned reductions to "top-up" funding that affects some of our schools, the future is likely going to continue to be difficult.

Other boards are having difficulties. When you search the internet - you will find that many boards are using reserves to balance their budgets.

The local Bruce Grey Catholic board got permission from the Ministry to submit a deficit budget. Boards aren't flush with money.

I appreciate the provincial government's re-investment in public education - they have launched great initiatives; full day learning for our Kindergarten students shows great promise; smaller class sizes in the primary division is a great step; the provincial  government has supported our ARC recommendation for Walkerton. These are all good things. But our budget difficulties remain.

What has surprised me is the lack of success we have had in connecting with our local MPPs. Board staff and our board's Vice-Chair tried to arrange a meeting with Bill Murdoch, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. Mr. Murdoch wasn't interested. His representative gave reasons like the Legislature is not sitting, or Mr. Murdoch is not going to run in the fall. Disappointing.

Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce, offered to meet with us at her office. There is a provincial election coming this fall.  Education is the second largest budget item for the Province of Ontario.

Please consider asking the prospective candidates questions on education and education funding. When the election is over - trustees will have another chance to connect with our MPPs.  I will be supporting that.

Sincerely,

Kevin Larson,

Trustee

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Sunday, June 26, 2011