The Coquitlam Teachers' Association president wants assurances from the board of education that any budget surplus goes to the classroom.
Ken Christensen raised the issue as the School District 43 board accepted a report Tuesday that detailed the allocation of funds from the $6.5-million surplus left over from the last school year. Most of the funds in the surplus were allocated in September, breaking up the sum into $1.392-million chunks to be spent this year and the next three, plus $1 million to a budget for facilities.
But a combination of this year's surplus, savings and extra revenue, most of which has already been spent on new teachers when schools opened in September, plus technology and an administrator to help with the hiring of educational assistant, left $1.17 million for various programs.
"What my membership wants to be assured of is that surplus moneys go back to the classroom," Christensen said.
The district's acting secretary-treasurer, Chris Nicolls, said 12 teachers and 21.67 FTE educational assistants were hired in September while other funds were prioritized based on the district's new Directions 2020 Strategic Goals and Objectives.
"We've actually started to plan ahead and to move forward in support of students with special needs," Nicolls said.
Among the projects approved are funding for:
• trades and ACE-It education for students;
• emergency preparation and student health and safety initiatives;
• student mentoring, self-regulated learning and other professional development support;
• an IT operational efficiency study and IT infrastructure support;
• annual water testing and emergency lighting testing;
• repair of building deficiencies at Pitt River middle school;
• funding for learning services support;
• and new bear-proof garbage cans for middle and secondary schools (not elementary schools because children find them too difficult to operate).
The 2020 Strategic Goals and Objectives, publicized earlier this school year, lays out priorities for student success, enhancing learning through technology and fostering a sustainable educational organization.
