BC's Education Minister is confident the Vancouver School Board can solve a $10-million budget shortfall.
Don McRae says they have dealt with budget shortfalls before in Vancouver and managed to overcome the problem. "Well I am a history teacher by trade and if you look at history traditionally when we are in this start of budget consultations that there is often talk in this Vancouver school district of a shortfall but at the end of the year they balance their budget and they actually have a surplus. So I know there is tough decisions to make with declining enrolment but you know what I am looking forward to them working through the process."
McRae admits school boards are facing fiscal challenges but denies the root cause is a lack of government funding.
"You know you look at the per student funding ratio we are actually at the highest level in the province's history. We also see about 67-thousand fewer kids in British Columbia over the last ten years and seven thousand fewer will be here next year. It is a challenge with declining enrolment."
After going through the budget line by line the Vancouver School Board will table possible cuts today to bridge the fiscal gap.
Last week Trustee Mike Lombardi said when it comes to saving money everything was on the table from laying off teachers to cutting programs.
After the cuts are tabled the school district will then launch a public consultation process.