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SD5 board complains of ‘unreasonably’ tight deadlines

Board taking issue with tight deadlines for provincial funding programs through a letter sent to government representatives

Trevor Crawley

School District 5 Board of Education is taking issue with tight deadlines for provincial funding programs through a letter sent to various government representatives, including Education Minister Mike Bernier and Premier Christy Clark.

According to the letter, written by SD5 board chair Frank Lento, the Board of Education carried a motion highlighting the lack of time for the board to do their 'due diligence' on applying for funding programs that have a Sept. 30 deadline.

Lento writes that administration is busy over the summer, as staff are usually away on holidays to accommodate the school semester schedule all the while preparing schools for the upcoming semester, overseeing capital projects and conducting financial audits.

Once September hits, then SD5 personnel are focusing on welcoming new students, adjusting staffing, class configurations, instructional blocks, among other things.

Wrote Lento: "To request that staff—and Boards—perform additional research, analysis, planning and coordination at this time of year in order to meet an arbitrary September 30 deadline for monies which the government have recognized as necessary well before the lead-up to or end of summer illustrates a serious lack of planning on the part of the government and is disrespectful of the careful planning and hard work demonstrated by districts and staff across the province."

Lento reiterated the Board's call on the government to provide stable, predictable and adequate funding as recommended by the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services in 2015.