Melissa Hyndes hopes school funding will be front and centre this weekend when the BC School Trustees Association holds its annual general meeting.
The Port Moody trustee and chair of the board of education for School District 43 plans to bring up the topic if it's not already on the agenda because of what she calls "chronic underfunding" made worse when it's doled out in dribs and drabs throughout the year.
"At the BCSTA, I plan on standing there, I'm so ticked off quite frankly, I'm not going to be holding back, this is a sinking ship, and it's not just Coquitlam," Hyndes said.
Hyndes said the provincial funding formula needs to be more stable and predictable, and fairer for all districts.
Several districts throughout the province are also facing deficits next year and are dealing with them in a variety of ways, by cutting staff, supplies and services, consolidating programs or using prior years surpluses.
In Burnaby, for example, the board was able to balance the budget with a $4.7 million surplus from this year.
School District 43 didn't have the luxury of a surplus to put toward's a deficit, in fact, an anticipated surplus last year (2011/'12) of $900,000 turned out to be only $100,000. The shortfall contributed to this year's projected deficit of $8.1 million.
"This is not just a mistake, yes it is, there were mistakes made, but there is a signal that there is chronic underfunding happening and real inequities for education funding. It's about looking at the entire provincial funding formula and coming up with a formula that is sustainable and equitable," Hyndes said.
As for whether the district needs a forensic audit to point out mistakes in forecasting that contributed to the district's current financial troubles, Hyndes said much is known already, thanks to advice from a consulting expert, who is a retired secretary treasurer.
The district is also looking at replacing Rick Humphreys, who resigned Jan. 1 for personal reasons.
But she said the board of education hasn't had a chance to discuss whether a forensic audit is necessary and likely won't until the budget is passed May 7.
