School District faces million dollar deficit

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The Pacific Rim School District is a million dollars in debt and intends to quickly fix the deficit through layoffs and belt tightening.

At Wednesday’s School Board meeting, directors were informed of the “significant deficit” by superintendent Peter Klaver.

“Right now we feel that we need to shave a million dollars in order to cover our expenses however that may change in February with the February count, so it’s fluid but if we don’t act now we won’t be able to achieve these savings this year,” he said.

Klaver said four CUPE positions will be eliminated, some teaching positions will be reassigned, and they’ve reduced trustee travel and meeting expenses.

Alberni District Teachers Union president Ryan Dvorak said students will be affected by cuts, especially students with special needs.

Dvorak said the deficit was no surprise and urged protections be put in place to prevent it from happening again.