For immediate release
August 27, 2001
Board continues to put students first
Hastings and Prince Edward
District School Board Trustees choose to put students first and determined
not to reduce programs and services to students, despite direction from
the Ministry requiring them to do so.
On June 28, 2001 the Hastings
and Prince Edward District School Board Trustees approved a budget of $133,699,000
for the school year 2001-2002. In spite of large funding shortfalls in
the key areas of transportation, school secretarial support, principal
/ vice-principals, and school operations, the Board refused to reduce programs
and services to students. To balance the budget, the Board chose to work
towards convincing the provincial government to reinstate special funding
to offset the higher energy costs of school transportation and heating.
A response to the 2001-02
Budget submission was received from Ministry official, Wayne Burtnyk, in
a letter dated July 25, 2001. Mr. Burtnyk stated, "At this time, the Ministry
has not announced any additional 2001-02 grants for transportation and
energy costs and we believe including this revenue in your board's 2001-02
Estimates is not pragmatic." The letter goes on to request an alternative
plan and threatens a "cash flow penalty".
"What the Ministry is asking
us to do is sacrifice the learning opportunities that we provide for our
students, to pay for the high costs of fuel. This is not acceptable," said
Audrey Carter, Chair of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School
Board. "We have asked the Ministry repeatedly to meet with us to discuss
this inequity in the funding model but have received no reply. Now they
have threatened financial penalties. In response, we are once again asking
for an opportunity to meet with Ministry officials to discuss the 2001-02
Budget challenges and work together towards a successful resolution that
will put student first."
The letter to the Ministry
outlines the inequities in the funding allocations for transportation and
school operations, and requests that no action be taken against the Board
until the parties have met and have had the opportunity to examine fully,
what are the most appropriate approaches to institute. The Board, as part
of its June 28 motion to approve the 2001-02 Budget, is also developing
an action plan in the event that they are not successful in convincing
the province that changes to the Government's current funding model are
essential for maintaining programs and services for students.
For information contact:
Audrey Carter, Chair, Hastings Prince Edward District School Board,
969-8208
Reference:
Dave Rutherford, Superintendent of Finance, 966-1170, ext. 2280