An independent panel has tabled its final report reviewing the education funding model in B.C. but it could be years before we see or understand the changes.
BCTF President Glen Hansman says there are a lot of good ideas in the report but a lot of work remains to hammer out crucial details to flesh those ideas out.
Hansman notes working groups will be formed and report back to the minister next fall and then there is bargaining a new contract with teachers.
Something that could impact funding for special needs students outside this review report.
“Kamloops is one of the school districts that has detailed language around class composition. What we don’t have though in many other parts of the province, including elsewhere in the Okanagan, we do not have any language in collective agreements that make reference to special education designation or students with special needs.”
Hansman says detailed talks on the 22 recommendations will be had in the “many months to come.”
That said Hansman says there is a some intriguing ideas in the report including on recognizing the unique challenges of each district.
“Kamloops is in a fairly unique situation. It is similar to Prince George in that it has large urban centre but then satellite communities like Clearwater within the school district where the demographics of the students are quite different. Large geographical areas for the school district to be responsible for. Great distances from the school board office and challenges trying to hire people.”
For his part Education Minister Rob Fleming says to replace an outdated funding system will require hearing from everyone in the system from teachers, school staff, and even parents.
“The current model we have, that has produced so many frustrations, was imposed in 2002 without any consultation and it was designed in an era of enrollment decline. It was accompanied by cuts and record numbers of school closures all across BC. Today, the context is very different.”
What about recommendations addressing changing how special needs students are funded?
“Special needs organizations themselves have asked government for additional time to understand these recommendations, to be able to make suggestions based on their own experiences as parents or as practitioners and we will do that. We will take the time to get it right.”
Fleming says no education funding changes will be made before the fall of 2020.
