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Provincial Budget Response Action Plan

Goal

The goal of the Provincial Budget Response Action Plan is to secure adequate ongoing funding for BC’s K-12 public schools so that each school district may fully meet established goals and expectations.

Objectives

1. Supplemental funding be secured for school districts equal to the $29m administrative savings requirement for 2015/2016 and the $54m requirement for both 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

2. Savings from the implementation of all provincial and district level Shared Services to remain within the K-12 public education system.

3. A fully funded compensation increase for excluded staff be provided that is in line with improvements recently negotiated with teacher and support staff unions.

4. Alternatives be found that allow school districts not to have to fund the provincial costs for the establishment and maintenance of the Next Generation Network.

5. Establish a common understanding as well as agreed to data presentation standards for school district restricted and unrestricted budget surpluses, the costing of administrative services, and previously established school district cost saving measures between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and Boards of Education.

6. Significant consultation be undertaken as previously committed with BCSTA and Boards of Education by the Ministry of Education prior to any further changes in school district funding protection and the general provincial funding formula.

Background

The provincial government’s February 17th budget announcement for K-12 public education has once again put Boards of Education in a place of having to make significant cuts in service for the next school year. Although the 2015/2016 budget has been announced as providing more funding than ever to BC’s schools, the reality is that Boards of Education have not been provided adequate dollars to address current cost pressures and that they will now have no alternative but to further reduce service levels in a number of important school district functions. In 2014, the non-partisan Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommended to government that “….there needs to be stable, predictable,

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and adequate funding for public education, particularly to cover mandated increases for salaries, benefits, pension contributions, and Medical Services Plan premiums.” This supports BCSTA’s position that funding to school districts needs be at a level where we can at least maintain current education programs and meet public expectations of a world class learning environment for our students. Similar recommendations were also made by the committee in 2013. We believe the provincial government has ignored the continued recommendations of its own committee and left funding at a level where school district services cannot be improved or even maintained. Comments have been made to the media that school districts have had it easy for too long; that they must now undertake the same cost saving measures already embraced in the post-secondary and health sectors. “Low hanging fruit” was the term used to describe the administrative cuts that Boards would have to make in order to secure the required levels of cost savings for the next school year. It is indeed unfortunate that the hard work and tough decisions of Boards over a number of recent years to balance their district budgets was not recognized, respected or supported. Boards have worked diligently and effectively with their senior staff, partner groups and communities each and every year to deliver balanced budgets as well as the best learning environment and services possible for the students of this province. Boards of Education fully recognize the limitations of the taxpayer’s ability to pay and take seriously their responsibility to ensure each and every public dollar is spent wisely toward meeting the diverse needs of all learners and all communities. Significant work has already been done to put in place efficiencies and measures that ensure the greatest value can be obtained from the budgets we are provided. That successful work will continue. It is time for the provincial government to work with Boards of Education; not against us. Meaningful consultation and collaboration would go a long-way toward creating a working environment where the best overall outcomes possible can be attained. True co-governance must now be operationalized beyond the starting point established with the Ministry of Education late in 2014. Boards of Education received their individual 2015/2016 budget allocations from the Ministry of Education on March 12th. As happens every year, each Board will undertake a consultation process within their local communities on how ‘best’ to implement service cuts for the next school year in order to balance their budget at the funding level provided. It is unfortunate that such time and effort could not be put into more productive outcomes such as Ed Plan Innovation or improved learning outcomes for Aboriginal and English Language Learners. BCSTA commits to undertake the following 10 Point Action Plan on behalf of its member Boards in order to find a satisfactory resolution to the current funding shortfall and our need for improved consultation and collaboration going forward.

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10-Point Action Plan

1. A joint meeting of the BCSTA Board of Directors with the Minister of Finance and the Minster of Education to discuss the current budget impact and concerns as well as the tough decisions and hard work Boards have already done to balance previous budgets and establish responsible ongoing fiscal management plans.

2. Further meetings with Ministry of Education staff to build on the successful input

recently provided by BCSTA regarding the application of the funding formula further stressing the need for equitable resourcing for all school districts as well as transparency in budget documents.

3. Pursuit of the recent Provincial Council motion regarding a broad-based meeting

between Board Chairs, Branch Presidents, the Board of Directors and the Ministers of Finance and Education to discuss our current budget concerns.

4. Follow-up by all Boards in regard to the Provincial Council motions calling for 1) a

common action plan by all Boards that includes meetings with all local MLAs regarding the budget, and 2) a review of government budget processes and communications as they relate to the co-governance agreement.

5. Meetings with BCASBO, BCSSA and BCPVPA representatives to discuss a common

understanding of the budget issues as well as our response efforts. Future meetings to include a broader representation of partner groups.

6. Further conference calls and information sharing sessions with member Boards

toward creating common messaging on the budget impact as well as a common approach to further action.

7. Provincial and local media releases and interviews highlighting the impact of the

budget on school districts as local budget decisions are finalized.

8. BCSTA participation in the provincial shared services implementation advisory committee.

9. Assisting Boards (in cooperation with BCASBO and BCSSA) in gathering historical

data reflecting budget cuts as well as the increased reporting and administrative requirements currently required by government.

10. Additional actions and initiatives by your Board of Directors following review of

input from member Boards.

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Supplemental Information

BCSTA Budget Backgrounder Select Standing Committee on Finance recommendations for K-12 Education 2014 Select Standing Committee on Finance recommendations for K-12 Education 2013

School District Spending on Administrative Function Report 2013/2104

Recent additional reporting and administrative requirements for school districts MOE budget distribution announcement to school districts – March 12, 2015