From Ministry data (operating grants manual):
First, here is the provincial totals for education funding:
2008-2009: $4.467 billion
2009-2010: $4.551 billion
2010-2011: $4.551 billion
2011-2012: $4.551 billion
note how the amount stops growing... bet the costs of doing business won't stop growing....
now for SD5...
Category ........ 2008-09 recal'ed .... 2009-10 estimate .... change
Basic (enrolment-based) $ 31,312,908 ..... $ 30,525,948 ....... (-)$ 786,960
Supplemental Funding
Enrolment decline ......... $ 0 ..................... $ 236,962 ........... (+)$ 236,962
Unique student needs .. $ 4,160,356 ........ $ 4,136,186 .......... (-)$ 24,170
Salary differential ........ $ 1,560,857 ......... $ 1,521,623 .......... (-)$ 39,234
Labour settlement ........$ 4,807,319 ......... $ 5,708,333 ......... (+)$ 901,014
Unique geographic .......$ 4,295,290 ......... $ 4,163,771 .......... (-)$ 131,519
Transport & housing ....$ 1,461,021 ...........$ 1,461,021 .......... 0
Summer learning .........$ 46,000 ..................0 ....................... (-)$ 46,000
Total grant ..................$ 47,643,751 .........$ 47,753,844 ........ (+)$ 110,093
Note how our funding for unique student needs has dropped! So has the basic amount.
As a result, just to maintain current levels of service.... well, the board can't.
SD5 details:
Basic enrolment amounts include $157,977 for DL students, $526,590 for Alternate schools, and $1,281 for course challenges...
Enrolment decline supplement is based on a loss of 134.5 students over this year, and a total of 101 students since 2006-07.
Unique student needs money is done as follows:
-$32,000 per 'level 1' (physically dependent/Deafblind) student = $ 224,000
-$16,000 per 'level 2' ( Moderate to profound Intellectual Disability, Physical Disability, or Chronic Health, Visual Impairment, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Autism Spectrum) student = $ 2,288,000
-$8,000 per 'level 3' (Intensive Behaviour, Serious Mental Illness) student = $ 1,000,000
-$1,174 per ESL student = $ 7,044
-$1,014 per Aboriginal Education student (targetted funding) = $ 596,232
-$20,910 for Adult Education
Labour settlement funding includes money to cover the R & R award, harmonization costs, TTOC costs, ....
Unique geographic amounts include:
-Small community factor: $ 1,468,040
-Low enrolment factor: $ 1,029,495
-Rural factor: $ 908,037
-Climate factor: $ 286,157
-Sparseness factor: $ 472,042
The source documents are on file in the FDTA office....
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Applying for the job of union president....
After having had a few discussions with my colleagues in union leadership positions in the BCTF... a number of us are looking at the process used by people who become local presidents.
We have come up with the following ideas:
1. The job of the president is a job - a career component.
2. The position is a paid position, paid for by the membership.
3. The local association selects (hires) the person from all available candidates through an election (interview) process.
4. All members should be able to make a choice based on the skill set of all applicants for the job.
5. The job has a huge 'learn on the job' component, BUT it also includes a fair set of desirable prerequisites (related experience) that includes; knowledge of BCTF policies, procedures, and politics. knowledge of local association roles (PD, bargaining, Collective Agreement protection, Educational leadership, Social Justice), BCTF zonal work, Employer committee work, BCTF AGM, summer conferences, RA's, and more.
6. The election/election process impacts on the local post and fill process.
7. There is a deadline for all other 'requests for transfers' within a local that flow with the 'post and fill' process. The common date seems to be March 30th of the year.
8. The outgoing president must return to the classroom (return from a leave), and should have the right to be able to apply for transfers, etc., and to prepare for a return to 'the classroom'.
Therefore;
1. In order to run for election as a local president, any and all interested parties should need to APPLY for the job, just like you need to apply for any other job in the profession.
2. Applicants should need to supply a CV and a supporting statement that outlines their reasons for applying for the position, the reasons why they feel that they can do the job, and what they will bring to the role.
3. These documents should be shared with the hiring body (the local membership).
4. There should be an application deadline - say 1 month / 30 days before the local AGM. A firm date of March 30th would bring the process in line with requests for teacher transfers in the district.
5. There should be no opportunities to 'run from the floor' - to skulk around and manipulate democracy as it were.
6. All applicants should be allowed to campaign, by way of one 8.5 X 11 document (one-sided) distributed to all members prior to the date of the local AGM.
7. At the local AGM, each candidate / applicant would be able to speak to the hiring body (the membership), and to respond to questions from the membership.
The result would be an informed vote and selection by the local membership... what do you think?
We have come up with the following ideas:
1. The job of the president is a job - a career component.
2. The position is a paid position, paid for by the membership.
3. The local association selects (hires) the person from all available candidates through an election (interview) process.
4. All members should be able to make a choice based on the skill set of all applicants for the job.
5. The job has a huge 'learn on the job' component, BUT it also includes a fair set of desirable prerequisites (related experience) that includes; knowledge of BCTF policies, procedures, and politics. knowledge of local association roles (PD, bargaining, Collective Agreement protection, Educational leadership, Social Justice), BCTF zonal work, Employer committee work, BCTF AGM, summer conferences, RA's, and more.
6. The election/election process impacts on the local post and fill process.
7. There is a deadline for all other 'requests for transfers' within a local that flow with the 'post and fill' process. The common date seems to be March 30th of the year.
8. The outgoing president must return to the classroom (return from a leave), and should have the right to be able to apply for transfers, etc., and to prepare for a return to 'the classroom'.
Therefore;
1. In order to run for election as a local president, any and all interested parties should need to APPLY for the job, just like you need to apply for any other job in the profession.
2. Applicants should need to supply a CV and a supporting statement that outlines their reasons for applying for the position, the reasons why they feel that they can do the job, and what they will bring to the role.
3. These documents should be shared with the hiring body (the local membership).
4. There should be an application deadline - say 1 month / 30 days before the local AGM. A firm date of March 30th would bring the process in line with requests for teacher transfers in the district.
5. There should be no opportunities to 'run from the floor' - to skulk around and manipulate democracy as it were.
6. All applicants should be allowed to campaign, by way of one 8.5 X 11 document (one-sided) distributed to all members prior to the date of the local AGM.
7. At the local AGM, each candidate / applicant would be able to speak to the hiring body (the membership), and to respond to questions from the membership.
The result would be an informed vote and selection by the local membership... what do you think?
2009 BCTF AGM Report
We voted to leave the ‘Roundtable’ due to the lack of progress at the table. In fact, the complete lack of any progress, the lack of attendance by the Premier, the refusal of the Liberals to use the Roundtable for its promised purpose….
Bargaining motions that supported the goal of a return to ‘full and free local bargaining’ all passed.
Motions that support a real move to address the need to improve our benefit plans all passed.
Motions to force the BCiMC to change its investment processes were debatd, and more importantly, the needed discussions around ethics in investments, and the role that large stockholders can have in forcing changes in corporate behaviours happened. Investment attitudes are changing.
BCTF fees to remain the same in 2009-2010, with a shift of dues allotment that includes more $ into the SIP fund.
FSA campaign to continue on.
There was a continued debate among BCTF members around the ‘Coalition’ and caucusing. There is a party of people who are not in agreement with the principles of the ‘Coalition’, and who meet, plan, devise strategy, select people to run for the BCTF Executive (including the election strategy of dropping off the ballot), but who pretend to be “Independent”, even though they all wore “DUE” buttons, and caucused to come up with strategies to give caucusing a negative brand. Time was spent looking at the value of groups meeting to get up to speed on topics (become better informed) before a meeting.
Another heated debate occurred around the rights of retired teachers to TTOC.
The elections for the BCTF executive went as follows:
President: Irene Lanzinger
1st Vice: Susan Lambert
2nd Vice; Jim Iker
Members at Large:
Glen Hansman, Christine Stewart, Terri Mooring, Jill McCaffery, and Rick Guenther.
We heard speeches, rubbed shoulders with politicians, and together we steered a course for the BCTF for 2009-2010.
Bargaining motions that supported the goal of a return to ‘full and free local bargaining’ all passed.
Motions that support a real move to address the need to improve our benefit plans all passed.
Motions to force the BCiMC to change its investment processes were debatd, and more importantly, the needed discussions around ethics in investments, and the role that large stockholders can have in forcing changes in corporate behaviours happened. Investment attitudes are changing.
BCTF fees to remain the same in 2009-2010, with a shift of dues allotment that includes more $ into the SIP fund.
FSA campaign to continue on.
There was a continued debate among BCTF members around the ‘Coalition’ and caucusing. There is a party of people who are not in agreement with the principles of the ‘Coalition’, and who meet, plan, devise strategy, select people to run for the BCTF Executive (including the election strategy of dropping off the ballot), but who pretend to be “Independent”, even though they all wore “DUE” buttons, and caucused to come up with strategies to give caucusing a negative brand. Time was spent looking at the value of groups meeting to get up to speed on topics (become better informed) before a meeting.
Another heated debate occurred around the rights of retired teachers to TTOC.
The elections for the BCTF executive went as follows:
President: Irene Lanzinger
1st Vice: Susan Lambert
2nd Vice; Jim Iker
Members at Large:
Glen Hansman, Christine Stewart, Terri Mooring, Jill McCaffery, and Rick Guenther.
We heard speeches, rubbed shoulders with politicians, and together we steered a course for the BCTF for 2009-2010.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Spring is here...
Ah, the Friday before March break... it takes so long to get here, and it goes by so fast. Then, well, the snow is melting and you can smell Spring.
To those of you off on student trips - enjoy and be safe. To those going on holiday, enjoy and be safe.
Wednesday saw me spending a lot of time with Carole James, the Lead rof the BC NDP. We talked about Contract stripping (she recognized our loss, but said 'no', the NDP won't undo the damage done), Education Funding: we talked about the need to target $ for Special Needs children, Gray Area children, Early Intervention, Librarians, Electives, Shops, Small schools support, and other related issues.
I also spent a bit of time with the Presidents of some of the other unions in the Valley (like the Steel Workers) discussing issues facing them in their industries.
Kate, Cindy and I are off tomorrow to Vancouver to participate in the BCTF AGM - to speak on your behalf. We'll be dealing with Pensions, Politics, Bargaining, and other issues that will have a dirrect impact on your working and retirement life. Wish us well.
As the winter season comes to a close, the Association has successfully resolved a large number of outstanding grievances - some dating back to 2005! That's a good thing.
We've begun to work with the employer as the board begins the Post and Fill/staffing/budgetting season - wish us all well.
Steve
To those of you off on student trips - enjoy and be safe. To those going on holiday, enjoy and be safe.
Wednesday saw me spending a lot of time with Carole James, the Lead rof the BC NDP. We talked about Contract stripping (she recognized our loss, but said 'no', the NDP won't undo the damage done), Education Funding: we talked about the need to target $ for Special Needs children, Gray Area children, Early Intervention, Librarians, Electives, Shops, Small schools support, and other related issues.
I also spent a bit of time with the Presidents of some of the other unions in the Valley (like the Steel Workers) discussing issues facing them in their industries.
Kate, Cindy and I are off tomorrow to Vancouver to participate in the BCTF AGM - to speak on your behalf. We'll be dealing with Pensions, Politics, Bargaining, and other issues that will have a dirrect impact on your working and retirement life. Wish us well.
As the winter season comes to a close, the Association has successfully resolved a large number of outstanding grievances - some dating back to 2005! That's a good thing.
We've begun to work with the employer as the board begins the Post and Fill/staffing/budgetting season - wish us all well.
Steve
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Survey says....
Here are the main pieces of raw data from the membership survey done in February 2009:
1. SF should continue in the role of President of the FDTA: 85% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
2. SF is responsive to the concerns of all members of the FDTA: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
3. SF listens to what I have told him: 91% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
4. SF represents the opinions of his members at all times: 87% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
5. SF tries hard to be available for the membership of the FDTA: 93% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
6. SF represents the interests of the FDTA well with the employer: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
7. SF represents the interests of the FDTA well with the CDTA: 82% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
8. SF represents the interests of the FDTA well with the BCTF: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
9. SF is easy to approach in his role as president of the FDTA: 96% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
10. I feel I am well represented by the work of SF in his role as president of the FDTA: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
11. It is time for a change in the presidency of the FDTA: 78% of respondents said they disagreed or disagreed strongly with this statement.
12. The FDTA has a valuable role to play in defending the interests of teachers in the Elk Valley and South Country: 91% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
13. It is time to amalgamate the FDTA with the CDTA: 81% of respondents said they disagreed or disagreed strongly with this statement.
14. I feel that I am well represented by the work of the FDTA: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
15. I read the FDTA newsletter faithfully: 80% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
The 'Yes/No' answers are...
The FDTA has helped me in the last 5 years: yes - 88%
I am proud to be a member of the FDTA: yes - 95%
I know who the Executive members of the FDTA are: yes - 73%
I feel intimidated by the leadership of the FDTA: yes - 5% NO - 95%
I believe that the FDTA really does try to be ‘fair for all’: yes - 95%
The complete survey data (inluding every single comment) can be found by asking your Staff Rep.
1. SF should continue in the role of President of the FDTA: 85% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
2. SF is responsive to the concerns of all members of the FDTA: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
3. SF listens to what I have told him: 91% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
4. SF represents the opinions of his members at all times: 87% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
5. SF tries hard to be available for the membership of the FDTA: 93% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
6. SF represents the interests of the FDTA well with the employer: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
7. SF represents the interests of the FDTA well with the CDTA: 82% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
8. SF represents the interests of the FDTA well with the BCTF: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
9. SF is easy to approach in his role as president of the FDTA: 96% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
10. I feel I am well represented by the work of SF in his role as president of the FDTA: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
11. It is time for a change in the presidency of the FDTA: 78% of respondents said they disagreed or disagreed strongly with this statement.
12. The FDTA has a valuable role to play in defending the interests of teachers in the Elk Valley and South Country: 91% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
13. It is time to amalgamate the FDTA with the CDTA: 81% of respondents said they disagreed or disagreed strongly with this statement.
14. I feel that I am well represented by the work of the FDTA: 89% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
15. I read the FDTA newsletter faithfully: 80% of respondents said they agreed or agreed strongly with this statement.
The 'Yes/No' answers are...
The FDTA has helped me in the last 5 years: yes - 88%
I am proud to be a member of the FDTA: yes - 95%
I know who the Executive members of the FDTA are: yes - 73%
I feel intimidated by the leadership of the FDTA: yes - 5% NO - 95%
I believe that the FDTA really does try to be ‘fair for all’: yes - 95%
The complete survey data (inluding every single comment) can be found by asking your Staff Rep.
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