Central Okanagan Public Schools is facing a $1.9 million shortfall for its 2024-25 operating budget.
However, the school district administration believes that ‘budget pressure’ can be balanced without any significant reduction of services.
The fiscal realities for the coming school year were unveiled to the finance and audit committee at its monthly meeting Wednesday (April 3) in a presentation from superintendent/CEO Kevin Kaardal, secretary-treasurer/CFO Delta Carmichael and assistant secretary-treasurer Kate Cumming.
In a staff report to the committee, it was noted the Ministry of Education and Child Care operating grant saw a 3.36 per cent increase in per-pupil operating rates, but that increase won’t account fully for inflationary costs or increased classroom, student and operational needs anticipated for the 2024-25 school year.
The projected increase in enrolment for 2024-25 is 400 students.
Solutions for addressing the budget shortfall include:
• Continue to look for efficiencies in program and operating costs amid enrolment growth pressures, collective agreement commitments and student support needs
• Seeking funding from the Classroom Enhancement Fund for classroom complexity realities
• Review school discretionary budget spending
•Review local capital requirements, including the computer refresh upgrade program
• Focus on staff wellness initiatives to reduce illness costs to pre-pandemic levels
Despite the currently projected budget deficit, the school district still seeks to add 20 more FTE (full-time equivalent) inclusive teaching staff positions and to hire a wellness support administrative position at $124,000 a year.
Given opportunities to raise questions about the budget were Teri Wishlow, representing unionized CUPE operating staff; Susan Bauhart, president of the Central Okanagan Teachers Association; and Nicola Baker, president of the Central Okanagan Parent Advisory Council.
All three zoned in on the wellness support administrative position, questioning the rationale for the position at this time.
Kevin Kaardal, Central Okanagan Public Schools superintendent/CEO, said the position is not another human resources management level, but rather a supportive position to address needs outlined in an ad hoc process currently underway to assess school district staff wellness and seek solutions to help reduce current employee illness replacement costs.
Kaardal said completion of that process would create the objectives upon which the new position would be based.
Several trustees voiced support for creating the support position, saying there the demands placed on operating and teaching staff should be addressed to provide a healthier workplace and in turn learning environment for students.
“It is a good thing to do. If people feel better at work, they are less likely to have to be absent…our staff being well and working is what we want,” said trustee Wayne Broughton, chair of the finance and audit committee.
Wishlow contended that shortfalls in custodial staff continue to place pressure on decision-making choices when there is not enough staff or time to address every school’s janitorial service and cleaning needs.
She also raised a need to increase hours for Certified Education Assistants (CEA) to allow for consultation with school teams to better support students, and increase clerical hours and staff to reduce overtime and aid in the retention of relief staff.
The school district responds that over-worked employees have the ability to discuss their workplace situation with department managers and human resources staff to address those issues.
In the budget report, the response outlined is to add two full-time equivalent (FTE) bus drivers, 1.7 FTE custodial staff to better support gym refinishing across the district, and .5 FTE technician and .5 FTE carpenter to support an educational smart display refresh program.
The budget submission from the Central Okanagan Principals and Vice-Principals’ Association calls for additional teaching staff (classroom support, counselling, learning assistance, literacy and social-emotional support); increased classroom CEA and clerical support; additional mental health support services; and various capital items such as gender neutral washrooms and school facility improvements.
The proposed addition of 20 FTE teaching positions is a response to some of those requests.