WEDNESDAY June 14, 1995 NEWS photo Mike Waketield NORTH VANCOUVER City Fire and Rescue Capt. Gavin Soanes gives pointers to Lions Gate Hospital’s Cathy McDonald during a fire-fighting training exercise. District 44 ordered to eliminate $1.7m deficit VICTORIA HAS ordered North Vancouver School District 44 to cut an. additional $1.7 ‘million from its 1995-96 budget to retire a deficit incurred in the 1994-95 school year. By fan Noble ' News Reporter In giving the edict, Education Minister Art Charbonneau rejected the board’s preliminary 1995-56 budget. But making massive cuts in a district that ‘claims to be chronically underfunded may be easier said than done. District 44 board chair- ‘man Barbara MacLellan said nothing else can ’ be chopped from the budget. “We've cut every Where,” she suid. * “The list is enormous.” In a June 6 letter 10 MacLellan directing District 44 to balance its budget, Charbonneau said: “In these fiscal times it is imperative that ‘all Jevels of government balance their budgets and ensure that :fulure programs Ue Nol impaired by previous deficit repayments.” ‘In the letter, he offered minisury aid * assist your district in considecing Gpportuni. "ties for cost containment.” “MacLellan said she's leaning towards acceptance of the offer in an effort to show the ministry the district cannot manage on the funds given it by the province. But she said Tuesday: morning the board would decide its course of action at its Tuesday night meeting. CUPE ond the North Vancouver Teachers" Association (NVTA) also hope the board accepts the government overture. NVTA president Keith Denley said if there are ways to contain costs the board has not yet identified, the minister’s team may find them. If the team can’t find cost-cutting avenues, the need for more funding in the district will be reinforced, “Either way it can be a positive initi for the district,” he said. CUPE Local 389 president Mike Hocevar said the union welcomed the minister's aid offer, adding that any recommendations resulting from the process must be public. He blamed mismanagement by District 44°s senior administrators and misplaced pri- orides for the school district's moncy prob- lems Because they have. {ost jobs dwough previ- ous budgets, union members worry they will be the losers when the cuts now demanded are implemented, Hocevar said. “t don’t know what to anticipate,” he said. “I ative can only fear the worst at this time.” District 44's preliminary budget axed the district’s 18 unionized crossing guards. Superintendent of Schools Robin Brayne said the only way to cut $1.7 million from District 44’s $103 million budget will be labour-force reductions. Approximately $95 million in the prelimi- nary 1995-96 budget goes to salaries and ben- efits, while $8 million pays for everything else, said Brayne. “{ don’t think we can cut from the $8 mil- lion anymore,” he said, but added no areas will be exempt from consideration. In discussing the district’s cash woes, Brayne and MacLellan both pointed to a two- year-old report showing that the district has been underfunded by 1.7% per year. But that report was rejected by other school districts. Figures compiled by the NVA reveal that since 1989-90, District 44's funding per pupil has increased the least compared with five similar-sized public school districts. However. the table alsa revealed the dis- trict’s $5,582 in per-student funding is the third highest of the six districts. in comparison, B.C. private schools receive partial funding from the government, and pri- vate school tuition can be as high as $6,G00 for a 10-month school year. Thursday: Cloudy with sunny raids ne 23°C, low 10°C. @ Around Town.............16 Business. 2 Of s) | 1 eed @ Crossword..................45 Day in Courtrt...............9 Fashion. & Inside Stories...........15 G insights... B B Mailbox... connie 8 BF Must. eee 1B iN. Shore Alert........11 & Shore Shots..............30 & Sunshine Girl...........26 MTV Listings..................32 4 Wright... Table Hopping adven- ture in the Cove: 20 A look at Hungary's spicy history: 22 sports & North Shore Twins pitcher drafted: 12 & High School Athletes of the Week: 14 proses Sizzler? Steak ¢ Seafood « Salad Yoon STEAK, SEAFOOD OR 7 CHICKEN ENTREE ADD-ON ALL | YOU CAN EAT SALAD BAR FOR. : $2.98 995 wih th this YY 983-3040.