SD52 Board meeting tonight could shed some light on staggering deficit and plans to address it through layoffs

The first indications of some financial challenges for SD52
came back in March as they outlined the prospect of up to a
3 million dollar deficit for 2021. Tonight Board officials
may outline how they plan to balance that financial concern
and what impact it may have on education in the community

Tonight's Regular Board Meeting for School District 52 may find an increased viewership for its Zoom link session, that as the community catches up on the peculating issues of School Board deficit and the impact it may have on staff and in the end potentially students.

While it seems to have only caught the attention of the media and the public in recent days; we've been tracking the issue for a few months on the blog, first from the March Board meeting that identified the need to address a budget deficit of between 2.3 and 3.4 million dollars.

And then as the issue was addressed by the Prince Rupert and District Teachers Union late last month, when we outlined their growing concern over the lack of information from SD52 officials and the prospect of extensive layoffs that could come as a result of the deficit which must be balanced.

Tonight, with the clock ticking on deficit time bomb, the trustees of the Board of Education could outlined what's ahead as they look to address the concerning situation.

Part of this evenings session which starts at 7PM will feature a report on the 2021-2022 Budget Bylaw which could provide some clarity for everyone with an interest in the School District as to what the plan is ahead.

That note and the rest of the Agenda, including a note that at ten minute Question and Answer period is planned can be reviewed here. 

Though if the current high level of interest in the community about the Board's deficit translates into viewers tonight, they may have to expand on that  ten minute comment period a bit.

To attend the virtual Board meeting tonight, those interested in events will need to contact the school District for Board meeting invite code.

To do so, contact Tamara Dickens at Tamara.dickens@sd52.bc.ca

To review the SD52 story to date, see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.