As a former resident of Prince George, I still follow some of the issues facing old friends in that community. I have been watching with interest that the Prince George school district is facing another round of school closures to meet budget demands.
While these closures may be justified, it seems SD 57 doesn't want to address their skyrocketing administrative costs.
Since 2004, teacher's salaries paid by the district have increased by less than two per cent. Clearly, with salary grid increases and annual increments, this shows that the number of teachers has decreased and everyone is aware that there have been a number of school closures already, and more are planned.
During this same period however, school district administrative salaries have increased by a whopping 75 per cent. So, while the numbers of teachers and operating schools have decreased, the cost of management over the same period has been spiraling upward.
In all fairness to the district sustainability committee chaired by superintendent Brian Pepper, they did recognize increasing administration costs in their January report and I quote, "In order to sustain school district operations going forward, it will be necessary to right-size district infrastructure." I guess they liked what they saw, because the wagons were quickly circled and in a final act of arrogance, they actually increased the budget for district administration in the amended budget.
Consider this, School District 23, where I currently reside, will pay just over $81 million in teacher's salaries this year with district administration costs of just over $2.5 million. By comparison, School District 57 will pay $53 million in teacher salaries with an administration cost of $3.4 million.
There are also practices at the administrative level, which trustees need to address immediately. The hiring of retired administrators into staff or contract positions should come under the most severe scrutiny. You retire with your full pension and then come back on full salary in another position.
It's a good gig if you can get it. It's like a senate appointment with about the same amount of potential patronage. This isn't unique to School District 57, but the practice is alive and well in your district.
Residents of Prince George are facing some tough decisions on spending in their school district, but it's time you hold your trustees and board office accountable for administrative costs which have ballooned out of control.
Brian Harding
Westbank
