Education council chair resigns over new budget
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Apr 02/01) - Hay River's district education authority is not giving up its fight for independence from the South Slave Divisional Education Council.
"We won't give up the fight," said Andrew Butler, who resigned as council chairperson last week in a dispute over the impact of next year's school budget on Hay River.
The budget projects a $632,000 surplus which will be achieved by a 5.5 per cent across-the-board cut. It will reduce the number of positions for teachers by 4.8 and special needs assistants by 3.7, Butler said.
Wide support
At a public meeting called last Wednesday by the Hay River DEA educators, parents, Mayor Duncan McNeil, and MLAs Paul Delory and Jane Groenewegen pledged their support to Butler.
"The fact of the matter is, Hay River is doing the right thing here," McNeill said.
Last fall, the Hay River DEA petitioned to Education Minister Jake Ootes to form their own board. It was rejected when the department warned that division would cost too much.
Ootes told News/North that he hasn't seen the proposed budget, and said his department will correct any inequities.
"If there's something wrong here, there's no doubt that my officials will alert me to it and we'll have a look at it," Ootes said.
Butler said the Fort Smith-based council should cut office positions before it lays off educators.
"If you want to build up a surplus, let's cut a couple consultant positions," he said.
Teachers safe
Superintendent Curtis Brown said Hay River will not lose any teachers over the cut, despite a smaller enrolment.
"That's remarkable, considering Hay River's enrolment is down by 24 students," Brown said.
"The actual number of teaching positions will be determined by the school principal and their DEA."
He said the South Slave council has 10 more teachers and nine more special needs assistants than are funded by the department.
Boards aren't permitted to run a deficit and the Education, Culture and Employment department recommends that they maintain a surplus to cover certain payments.
Brown said the council faces the extraordinary costs of $50,000 payments to each of 15 teachers who may retire this year.
"The majority of the retirements will be in Hay River, although there will be a couple, likely, in Fort Smith as well," he said.
Boards are funded until July 1, so Ootes said there is room to amend the budget.
