Tough budget decisions are coming at a couple of mid-Island school boards.
School District 69 in Qualicum is expecting a report this week on a Facilities Review that could recommend school closures, amalgamations, or reconfigurations as it looks to save about 3.5 million dollars a year.
They’re collecting input through an online survey that’s going to be open until noon on January 22nd. The board meets on the 23rd.
The Nanaimo Ladysmith Board, meanwhile, is facing a budget shortfall of $5.6 million for next school year.
The Board will vote on an amended budget for this year on January 29th that includes what the Secretary Treasurer is calling a “clawback” on spending in order to shift money to next year’s budget to deal with the shortfall.
The clawback is made up of 400-thousand dollars in staffing contingencies and 600-thousand in services and supplies. The rest of the $2.5 million will come from a $1.5 million surplus carried forward from last year. The Trustees will have to decide how to save the other $3.1 million as they work on the 2014/15 budget.
