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	Budget Crunch Has School Board Crying for Help Province Asked for Emergency Funding, and Guidance, to Bridge Shortfall By Holly Lake Ottawa Sun [Canada] March 1, 2007 http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/BreakingNews/2007/03/01/3681259.html Ottawa Carleton District School Board chair Rob Campbell made an impassioned plea last night for the province to bridge the funding gap that has the bell set to ring on more than 130 teaching positions come September. As trustees debated cuts to 215 full-time equivalent positions, including 132 teachers, for a second night in a row, Campbell admitted he's struggled to digest it all. "I have wavered alarmingly back and forth on the issues, as many of you are aware," he said. "Increasingly I have to ask myself where is the fire? I think we may be moving too quickly." Although the province appears willing to give the board an extra year to balance its books, the board must cut spending by almost $28 million to do that. Eliminating all 215 positions would save just over $15 million. 'Get what you want for the price you want' - The Maxx - The board has asked the provincial government to send in Special Assistance Team to make recommendations to help balance its budget. About 60% of the board's budget goes to teacher salaries and the board has argued it has the largest funding gap in the province. That means the money the board receives falls $6 million short of what it needs to pay teachers That gap dates back to pre-amalgamation, when the board could raise taxes. But each year the gap is not addressed, "It's another that OCDSB students and families are given the short end of the stick," Campbell said. Many of the 130 teaching positions on the block are in special education. In all, 78 full-time equivalent special education positions, including instructors, may be cut. The board has to make a decision this week if it is to meet timelines set out in its union contracts. Most of the positions are considered 'overlay' which means they are above and beyond what the province funds, based on enrolment. The board receives no funding for the positions so it must draw that from other sources, including facilities and administration. The overlay positions, however, have been a fixture at the board for years. What may lessen the blow is the fact the board typically sees about 100 staff retire or leave each year. It will also receive provincial funding for 35 new teaching positions. Almost two hours into the meeting last night, trustees finally voted on the first agenda item. In a 6-5 decision, they voted in favour of reducing 46 FTE primary, junior and intermediate teacher overlay positions, resulting in savings of $3.81 million. Trustee Bronwyn Funicello spoke out against the move. She said eliminating 46 positions in one swoop, "pulling the entire rug over from under this," was not something she could support. The same number voted in favour to reduce the number of elementary vice-principal positions from 45 to 39, with the proviso VP allocations for Crystal Bay and Clifford Bowey remain unchanged. While he doesn't intend to support all the proposed cuts, trustee David Moen wanted to see more of the unfunded overlay positions eliminated. "We have a responsibility to balance the budget - a legal responsibility." Trustee Alex Getty agreed. "We have to start operating in terms of the real world here. This constant balking ... and pointing the finger at the province is not going to help our students, our parents or our community," he said. Later he urged fellow trustees to pick up the pace. On Tuesday night he was clearly frustrated after a three-hour meeting saw absolutely no progress made on the long list of recommended cuts. "Let's get to just voting on these things. It's the only way we're going to get through this by (Thursday) night. Prolonging it is just not productive," he said. "Our credibility is at stake I believe. We have to make those decisions one way or another." Shortly after he spoke, trustees voted against extending the meeting beyond 10:30 p.m., despite having not started until after 8:30 p.m. holly.lake@ott.sunpub.com
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