North Shore school districts dip into 'rainy day' funds to avoid layoffs, balance budgets

There will be no teacher layoffs, and school districts on the North Shore will dip into their “rainy day” funds to balance their budgets as schools get ready for a near normal return to class next fall.

Trustees in both North and West Vancouver school districts have passed preliminary budgets, focusing on a return to as many regular programs as possible next year, despite the continuing drop in revenue from international fee-paying students.

The North Vancouver school district will balance its approximately $166-million operating budget by dipping into surplus to the tune of over $5 million next year to cover a drop in school district generated revenue. Most of that has been caused by a decline in international students. The school district is expecting about 375 international students to register in North Vancouver next year, said director of finance Kristen Watson – far fewer than the 625 to 725 students who normally attend, resulting in a revenue gap of almost $5 million.

Same number of teachers expected in North Van, EA positions reinstated

The school district is expected to retain the same number of teachers – 960 – next year. While the temporary online learning program funded by the federal and provincial governments will end, those teachers will return to the regular classroom. The school district also expects to add back about 50 educational assistants to the budget this year for a total of 365 positions. Those EA positions weren’t budgeted last year as the partially-online schooling schedule at the secondary level resulted in fewer staff being needed, said Watson.

The budget includes an additional $155,000 for casual custodial time over regular school years to cover extra janitorial costs.

The school district expects to receive about $1 million more in regular operating grant funds next year from the province, said Watson, but added provincially-negotiated salary increases for teachers and CUPE support staff are expected to add up to more than that – clocking in at about $1.8 million.

The band and strings program – reduced last year after fewer students signed up during the pandemic – will be reinstated in most schools in at least a partial form.

The North Vancouver school district also expects to receive about $1 million of extra provincial funding recently announced by the province that has not been calculated into the preliminary budget figures.

In West Vancouver, it is a similar situation as trustees passed a preliminary budget of approximately $88 million for the next school year.

Fewer international students in West Van also

The budget even anticipates adding six staff, including a homestay co-ordinator and support staff for labs at secondary schools despite a continuing drop in revenue from international students.

West Vancouver anticipates about 374 international students next year, compared to 500 who would attend in a regular year.

The school district is also anticipating carrying at least some extra janitorial costs forward.

In the school year just wrapped up, additional cleaning cost the school district close to $260,000. Upgrading school ventilation cost about $195,000. Going to a higher level of air filters also added about $40,000 to costs.

The school district anticipates a full return to its academy programs next year, said Diane Nelson, director of instruction.

Sports academies including basketball, fencing, volleyball, badminton and tennis – as well as robotics – are already fully subscribed, she said.

The West Vancouver school district anticipates using close to $3 million in accumulated surplus to balance its budget in 2021/2022.

School board chair Carolyn Broady said the school district is fortunate to be in a position to do that, noting many school districts have had to struggle with the prospect of layoffs in light of declining revenues.