There is no more money to cut.

That’s what School District 53 chair Marieze Tarr is telling the provincial government.

At last week’s budget meeting in Oliver, she said school boards across the province are getting less and less money, yet the Ministry of Education still expects districts to provide the same level of service to students.

But the Okanagan-Similkameen board “can’t do that,” she stated.

Secretary-Treasurer Lynda Minnabarriet presented the $23.8 million budget for 2015-16, which currently requires the use of nearly $700,000 of prior year surplus to address the shortfall.

One of the areas the board is looking at in terms of saving money is moving the Osoyoos YouLearn.ca campus from its storefront location to Osoyoos Secondary School. The move will save the board $26,560 in leasing/utility costs.

But YouLearn staff and one student expressed concerns about this idea.

Student Jeff Smith said a lot of young people don’t do well in high school for various reasons, such as bullying or anxiety issues. Therefore, moving YouLearn to Osoyoos Secondary is a bad idea, he stated.

“Having 13 and 17 year olds hanging out with high school dropouts could present a problem,” Smith said.

YouLearn instructor Miles Derksen said hundreds of students have graduated since the storefront school opened. He cited several success stories, including one male student who did not succeed in high school, but has completed courses at YouLearn. A female student was bullied in high school but will graduate from YouLearn. And another student with a criminal record is thrilled to have a second chance at graduation.

Derksen said he fears losing a lot of students if YouLearn is moved to the high school. He noted it’s important to keep the facility in a central location.

“We’re asking the board to consider the human costs,” he said.

YouLearn instructor Ernie Millward said staff are not opposed to moving, but he noted the school should be in the downtown core.

“Moving to the high school would precipitate a further decline in FTE (full-time equivalent) students.” (There are currently 80 students in the Osoyoos campus.)

Superintendent of Schools Bev Young said the board has reviewed these concerns, particularly YouLearn access and hours at the high school.

Osoyoos Secondary School principal Mike Safek said they have talked about student safety if the high school accommodates YouLearn.

“We will make sure to keep students safe and not interacting with adults.”

Minnabarriet talked about declining enrolment figures in the district, noting there were 2,367 students in 2010-11, compared to 2,290 in 2014-15. The projected enrolment in 2019-20 is 2,038.

Ministry funding is tied to the number of students in a given district. This district receives about $7,000 per student.

“Right now the number of kindergarten students are fewer than Grade 12 students leaving,” Minnabarriet said. “Once the numbers are equal, hopefully we’ll stabilize.”

She pointed out that elementary schools are starting to see stabilized enrolments, but the board projects more declines for secondary schools.

“There will be some reduction in staffing due to declining enrolment,” the secretary noted.

Minnabarriet said the district receives a funding protection grant for declining enrolments, but even this grant has been declining (from about $900,000 in 2010-11 to approximately $300,000 in 2015-16).

School trustee Rob Zandee said they have to discuss how to attract more families to the district in order to boost enrolment. The question is how do we create economic development and jobs? Zandee said the towns and the regional district have control over this.

Minnabarriet said 81 per cent of the $23.8 million budget goes to instruction, while four per cent is spent on administration. About 12 per cent is spent on operation and maintenance.

Salaries make up 68 per cent of the budget, while benefits make up 17 per cent.

Budget changes from 2014-15 include $75,000 for a new computer network, and a one per cent ($40,000) increase for support staff.

Minnabarriet said the district is required to come up with $263,835 in administrative savings in 2016-17, but noted they are saving $145,000 by eliminating the assistant superintendent position (with the previous retirement of Jim Insley).

The secretary-treasurer noted that the draft budget includes a three per cent increase ($360,000) for exempt staff (principals, vice-principals, secretary-treasurer) if the wage freeze is lifted.

Minnabarriet said teachers’ salaries have increased, but school districts have not been allowed to give exempt staff a pay hike because of the freeze.

During question period, a concern was raised about the board using a huge chunk of its surplus to address the deficit, and how that will impact the learning environment for students.

Minnabarriet said parents won’t see big changes this year, but admitted that decisions will be tougher in future years.

LYONEL DOHERTY

Special to the Times