Okanagan Falls Trustee Sam Hancheroff (left) blamed the lack of provincial funding as he voted to close Osoyoos Secondary School on April 6. Just over a week later he racked up $2,053.30 in expenses to attend the annual general meeting of the B.C. School Trustees Association at the luxury Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. Board Chair Marieze Tarr (right) was only slightly more frugal, spending $1,837.01. Only Osoyoos trustee June Harrington did not attend. (Richard McGuire photo)
A $14,000 junket by School District 53 trustees only days after they voted to close Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) isn’t sitting well with some in the Osoyoos community.
Six trustees and two members of administration spent a combined $13,803.96 to attend the annual general meeting of the B.C. School Trustees Association (BCSTA) in Vancouver from April 14 to 17.
Only Osoyoos trustee June Harrington did not participate on the April junket.
“It’s horrendous,” said Brenda Dorosz, chair of both the Save Our Schools committee, which is winding down, and the Osoyoos Independent School committee. “The amount of money they spent in the last six months could have paid for another education assistant in our school. They spent so much money, I’m flabbergasted. It makes me furious.”
Trustees spent a similar amount, $13,868.49, in November to attend the BCSTA’s Fall Academy held Nov. 26-28 in Vancouver.
Both events were held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Vancouver, which boasts on its website of being a luxury hotel with luxurious guestrooms and suites.
Their total accommodation tab for the April trip was $5,523.22.
The trustees also flew from Penticton and their travel expenses came to $3,084.24.
Coincidentally, they shared their plane with Osoyoos Councillor Mike Campol, who was travelling for personal reasons, and who had confronted them a week earlier when they voted to close OSS.
The biggest spender was Cawston-Keremeos Trustee Debbie Marten, who racked up $2,117.41 for the April trip on the public dime. Her meal bill of $163 was more than double that of some other trustees.
Sam Hancheroff, of Okanagan Falls, spent a paltry $56 on meals, but his $950.70 accommodation bill more than made up for that and his expenses totaled $2,053.30 – second only to Marten.
Asked by email if she thought the event was good value for the funds, school board chair Marieze Tarr didn’t answer directly.
“The BCSTA AGM is where boards meet from across the province for professional development and to utilize their allotted votes to advocate the ministry for the needs of students and their districts,” Tarr responded.
She referred the Osoyoos Times to the website for the event.
Dorosz said trustees could use technology such as Skype or conference calls, especially when they’re trying to save money.
Nor did they skimp on accommodation, she said.
“Why can’t they stay at the Best Western?” Dorosz asked.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
