Prospect Lake Elementary School PAC

NEWS RELEASE

 

 

 

COPACS Supports School District 63 Unprecedented Decision 
to Request Government Return Money

 

Victoria, British Columbia -April 28, 2016 - COPACS recognizes the untenable position that our board has been thrust into by recent actions of the provincial government and stands in solidarity with the school board’s unprecedented decision to request the ministry of education return the funds.

 

Specifically: 

1.    Government took $700,000 we made in administrative savings into provincial coffers rather than having us move those savings into programs and services for students. 

2.    We have been required to pay $314,000 of annual costs for a new provincial network for internet access, up from a cost of $30,000 for the previous system, PLNet. 

These actions prevent our board from fulfilling its statutory and legal obligations under the school act to provide educational services to our children while maintaining a balanced budget.  At the School Board Special Budget Meeting last night, The Board took an unprecedented stance in moving:

That the Board submit a balanced budget for 2016/17 that includes as anticipated revenue from government the expenditures imposed and required by the provincial government specifically for the Next Generation Network ($314,000) and the “administrative savings” ($700,000).

COPACS president James Taylor says “It’s time that we hold our elected provincial government directly accountable for their decisions. We’re at an absolute tipping point, there are no more services we can possibly cut. We’re pleased to see School District 63 take a stand.”

 

The Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils of Saanich (COPACS) is the official representative for School District 63 Parent Advisory Councils.

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Media Inquiries:
James Taylor, President
Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils in Saanich (COPACS)
250 661 7643
copacssd63@gmail.com