2016/17 Budget Process

School District No. 42 meets the learning needs of approximately 14,000 students of all ages in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and is defined by its determination to keep student learning and growth at the heart of all its decisions.

All decisions made by the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District are guided by its vision and core values, and are based on research and consultation. Similarly, the district’s initiatives and resources are all aligned to support its firm commitment to continuous improvement, teaching and learning, effective use of technology, building and sustaining community and partner group relationships, and designing effective and sustainable support systems.

Due to many cost pressures beyond its control, the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District faced operating budget funding shortfalls of $5.66 million for 2013/14, $5.02 million for 2014/15, and $1.68 million for 2015/16. The reasons for these shortfalls included declining enrolment, the CUPE wage increase, increased costs for benefits, inflation, utilities rate increases, the use of reserves to fund previous budget shortfalls, and provincially mandated administrative savings.

The implementation of reductions of this magnitude has led to financial and staffing challenges that created instability in the system. The impact of the reductions on our schools has been identified by students, teachers, CUPE, MRTA, principals, vice-principals, and parents.

For 2015/16 and 2016/17, the province tasked all school districts with finding administrative savings. For the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District, the administrative savings target set by the Ministry of Education and Child Care over two years is $1.35 million. Given this requirement, in 2015/16 the board adopted an administrative savings plan that meets Ministry of Education requirements.