School District 43 is utilizing three years of surplus funds to help it balance a post COVID-19 budget for the next school year.
But how the current pandemic will affect the bottom line is still a bit of an unknown, as restrictions to international travel prevent foreign students who are not already studying here from enrolling in SD43 schools in the fall, and investments take a hit.
“We are able to weather the storm,” acknowledged Coquitlam trustee Jennifer Blatherwick in a virtual board meeting this week, noting that district policy allows surpluses from prior years to be used to balance the budget.
Without $3.7 million in surplus accumulated from the previous three years, much of it from fees foreign students pay, SD43 would have had to make some cuts to balance the budget.
Instead, the money was used to fill gaps in provincial funding to cover the costs of instruction and other expenses as trustees moved to pass a $392.5 million budget for the 2020/’21 school year during a Zoom meeting.
Still, some cuts are expected because of an anticipated drop in international education revenue and less than expected provincial funding.
Layoffs will soon be announced as the district moves to cut 37 teaching jobs. However, those numbers could change as enrolment is confirmed in September.
Last week, secretary treasurer Chris Nicolls told trustees that a reduction in investment income is also hurting the school district budget, and there are additional costs for dealing with COVID-19.
As well, budget figures released earlier show that $2.5 million in provincial funding is being diverted to smaller rural schools, resulting in financial challenges for the district in 2020/21.
Still, despite COVID-19 restrictions and impacts, a large number of school improvement projects will go ahead this year with $5.5 million in provincial annual facility grant funding. They include roof replacements, flooring upgrades construction and a teaching kitchen for the Coquitlam Alternate Basic Education school (CABE), in Coquitlam.
The $200,000 kitchen project has long been identified as a need to teach students cooking and other life skills, according to Ivano Cecchini, executive director of facilities and planning services.
Tuesday’s Zoom meeting was the last chance for trustees to comment and question the district budget, a process that started with a public meeting in February.
Compared to prior years, where the budget discussion were held in a board meeting or gym, and there were questions and even opposition, Tuesday’s meeting, where trustees appeared on screen from home or school offices was a quiet affair, with everyone voting in favour of the budget, although few spoke.
Board chair Kerri Palmer-Isaak expressed thanks to district officials and everyone who participated in crafting the budget during trying times.
“That’s a big job and a lot of work on the part of a lot or people for that to happen,” Palmer Isaak said.
