LOCAL EDUCATION BUDGETS & COSTS

The Waterloo Region Record carried this story last June 25/14 titled: "Bell time trade-offs to be costly". We are advised that our two local School Boards in Waterloo Region spend in total nearly $1 Billion dollars a year. That is an awesome almost nearly unaccountable sum of money. Our trustees have less and less input which is exactly to the liking of the professional full time educational staff. Sometimes in the municipal arena you can see staff looking for direction and leadership from the elected council members. Not so much with either the private or public school boards. For them trustees are a nuisance to be tolerated and given lip service to.

This particular Record article advise that the Boards in rolling back their later start times at some schools will cause bus transporation costs to increase. Buses are shared by the two boards. Other cost issues include repairs and upgrades to the public school board's (WRDSB) offices at Ardelt Avenue in Kitchener. There will be a meeting room created for up to 200 people. I wonder down the road how many senior board staff will be 'borrowing" this space for off hours social engagements, parties etc.. Even that I doubt would get either the public or the trustees up in arms. Considering that they just got through spending $1 Million last year to renovate the boardroom, this most recent renovation seems a trifle thoughtless and inconsiderate of taxpayers money.