school district #83

DISTRICT PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

PRESIDENT Kari Wilkinson

Secretary Heather Hamlin-Gravells
TREASURER Pearl Hiemstra

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Superintendent Glenn Borthistle and Board of Trustees

DPAC 2015 /16 Budget Considerations

Accountability / Transparency
School District 83 has not shown enough accountability or transparency when it comes to expenses. SD83 staff are
not encouraged to discuss areas of cost savings with the public and fear repercussions if they do so. Listening to
your front line staff should be your first course of action.
Statement of Financial Information Schedule of Renumeration and Expenses 2012 - 2014
Over the past 3 years a total of $1.89 MILLION has gone out in SD83 Employee Expenses.
This includes money spent on approved SD business expenditures such as travel, professional development
and association memberships.
$633,986 in 2014. (Of this $133,685 are the expenses for 8 people).
$660,542 in 2013.
$598,893 in 2012.
A significant reduction in employee expenses for travel and professional development should be implemented
- especially since budget cuts to support our kids educational needs / requirements in the
areas of literacy/library; special needs; speech; hearing; mental health and music are on the table.
Management and administration retreats can and should be held in SD83 facilities. Past practices of retreats held at
ski resorts should no longer be happening.
SD Vehicle Use
All School District vehicles should have decals to identify them. Currently, management/admin vehicles do not have
decals - and are used for personal use at great expense to our operations budget in fuel, and ongoing maintenance.
F150 Platinum Ford trucks at a cost of $60,000 for management personnel are not necessary. Small commuter
vehicles economical on fuel should suffice for getting staff around our district. Further, SD83 vehicles should
NOT be available for personal use on weekends and/or vacations to haul boats and horse trailers with.
SD83 has expressed concern about the carbon footprint we are making. Management should lead by example.
Capital Expenditures
Larger gyms were promised to Carlin and Lenwood Schools 9 years ago when these schools transitioned to a
K - 8 model; in addition a larger library is required at Carlin. The low priority placed on educational learning
facilities in relation to School District administration space and responsible spending when it comes to facility
upgrades is mind-boggling.
New School District Office - cost has been estimated at $6 MILLION, $7 MILLION, and $8 MILLION... Who knows?
Maintenance Building Expansion - estimated cost $850,000
MQN Architects - $459,028 in 2014.

DPAC 2015 /16 Budget Considerations

PAGE 2

Admin / Management Positions

With a 28% enrollment decline over the past 13 years and projected declines thru to 2019 - there should be a
reduction in management and administrative hours at the Board Office; in schools and in the maintenance
division. We cant keep cutting services / positions that directly affect student learning.
When enrollment was at 8,500 students, the Manager of Human Resources was able to handle the workload without
an additional full-time clerical assistant. Why does the current HR Manager need at full-time clerical assistant with only
5,300 students enrolled?
The cost for a blanket 3.5% wage increase for Principals, Vice-Principals and other administrative employees
not covered by a collective agreement is not realistic. 3.5% on a $100,000+ salary is significantly different than
3.5% on an average CUPE salary of $35,000. A cost of living increase should be considered for these employees
but not on a percentage basis.
OVERALL: Capital vs. Operations Expenses
It is very frustrating to PACs volunteering countless hours of time fundraising for learning tools for our kids schools to
hear about motorized height adjustable desks for the new Board Office, fancy vehicles for management staff, and Board
Office / Maintenance Expansion projects that have clearly gone far over budget.
If we can move wages for a Project Manager ($100,000) into the Capital Budget, what other expenses can be moved
around to make the numbers work?

DPAC Proposed 2015/16 Budget Cuts

Admin / Operations / Transportation

FTE

$s

Board Governance Services & Supplies

4,000
Ed. Admin Services & Supplies
10,000
District Administration Clerical
1.0
80,000
District Music Clerical
0.1
6,429
PVP Admin Time Change
0.8
80,000
District Student Services Clerical
0.3
13,500
Business Admin Services / Supplies
90,000
Business Admin Legal / Insurance
35,000
District Furniture and Equipment
30,000
District Payroll Staff
0.5
26,000
Operations Services and Supplies
35,000
Transportation, Services & Supplies
80,000

Maintenance Manager
1.0
100,000
Maintenance Planner
1.0
80,000
Maintenance Carpenter
0.5
36,000
Maintenance Painter
1.0
72,000
Maintenance Clerical
0.5
27,000
Closed Classrooms

150,000

$854,929
Program Enhancements / Other Costs
District Employee Expense Accounts
160,000
Annual Hardware / Software - 50% delay
150,000
One Time Tech Enhancements delay
582,000


TOTAL COST SAVINGS
$1,832,929