A temporary freeze on new hiring and "major purchase commitments" is being implemented in the Sea to Sky School District as a result of an estimated $1.2 million loss in revenue, most of it resulting from provincial Ministry of Education cuts, district officials said this week.
District 48 officials first learned of changes to the budget in a letter from the Ministry of Education dated Aug. 27, School Board Chair Dave Walden wrote in a statement issued on Wednesday (Sept. 2). Those came after the district's budget, allotting some $37 million for the delivery of services for the new school year, had been adopted and submitted to the ministry in June.
"The timing of the announcement of these types of changes is very difficult as much budget planning and staffing is already in place for the 2009-'10 school year," the statement said. "Also adding to the challenge is a minimal unrestricted surplus available from 2008-'09 operations."
As a result of those challenges, principals and supervisors in the district, which stretches from D'Arcy to Squamish, have been advised that no further staffing or major purchases are to be made "at this time," the statement said.
The exact amount of the shortfall isn't yet known, but district officials believe it will amount to approximately $1.2 million, Walden said, adding that it's not all a result of MOE cuts but in "various types of revenue" coming to the school district.
Walden said school districts across B.C. were in the process of receiving clarification on the changes mentioned in the letter and in the Sept. 1 provincial budget update. The district finance committee was huddling on the issue on Wednesday and plans another meeting on Sept. 14 "to discuss options to adjust budgets," he said.
More information will be provided after the Sept. 16 board meeting, Walden said.
