Saanich school board says it won't balance its budget

The Saanich school district is the latest school board to stand against the province's funding cuts by threatening to notbalanceits budget.

Vancouver School Board trustees voted against balancing theirbudget Thursday night.

Saanich school trustees are scheduled to vote on their budget May 11.

The school board is proposing to approve a budget with a nearly $1 million deficit.

Like the VSB, the Saanich school district says it cannot balance its budget due to provincial funding cuts including $700,000 in administrative savings.

"What has really made the difference between us being able to balance our budget or not arethe expenditures required and imposed by the provincial government," said Victoria Martin, chair of the Saanich school board.

• $1.1M offer fails to stop closure of Osoyoos high school
• VSB votes against proposed budget

High stakes

Many Saanich parents support the school board's message that it cannot go on with such large funding cuts.

"People within the system have been asking for change, have been calling attention to the problems and they are ignored," said James Taylor, president of the Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils in Saanich

"The only way this is going to change is if parents get involved."

But even with parents' support, the school trustees are putting their jobs at risk by refusing to present a balanced budget.

By law school districts in B.C. are required to submit a balanced budget by June 30.

Those who don'trun the risk of being dismissed by the provincial government.

With files fromOn the Island