VSB: Government report about budget shortfall full of errors

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The government has issued a damning report on the financial situation on the Vancouver School Board. Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid appointed the province's Comptroller General in April to find out why the board was in the red by $16 million. At the time, MacDiarmid said the board was either unable or unwilling to protect the interest of students.

The report concluded the VSB's current budget shortfall should only be $12 million and not $16 million. It also said the situation could have been avoided had the board managed its resources.

The Special Advisor added the board focuses on advocacy at the expense of the stewardship of the district, pushing for what they want rather than taking care of what they have and that excess school space is not being used well. The Advisor also said trustees have not showed they have the ability to properly run the district, in other words, saying they can't do their jobs.

Minister MacDiarmid says she has the power to fire the board but won't say if she's considering that right now. The report also says the board could also save money by closing or combining schools.

The Vancouver School Board chair says she is not pleased with the review of their budget. Patti Bacchus says she was elected to advocate and they do manage the board.

She says the report is full of errors -- numbers-wise and the board does do long-term planning but it's tough to do when they don't have consistant funding.

She also says the Comptroller General has questioned her integrity and the district is not in a better position after this review. Bacchus adds she's not concerned about being fired, an option available to the Education Minister.

Bacchus has said they would fully co-operate with the government, but since April, when the Comptroller General was appointed, the board has sent out a flurry of layoff notices.

Bacchus has said school closures and cuts to arts and music could be on the way if they can't find more funding.

The province contends the board's operating funding will be over $440 million next year, despite enrolment slated to drop by 108 students.