4/14/2010
The dispute between the Campbell government and the Vancouver Board of Education over funding for the next school year has been kicked up a notch.
The government is appointing a "special advisor" to examine the board's financial performance.
Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says the Vancouver School Board is either unable or unwilling to manage its resources to protect the interests of students and the government interprets that as an indication the board needs extra help.
The provincial comptroller general has been given the job and has a broad mandate including reviewing the board's management capacity.
"It sounds to me like the government is once again playing politics instead of looking at the children," said NDP leader Carole James. "It doesn't make any sense."
The Vancouver School Board says it's facing an $18 million shortfall next year, a figure the province disputes.
Rep. Sharon Gregson believes the province is getting revenge after the board called on Minister MacDiarmid to step down.
"I guess this is her way of one-upmanship," Gregson said.
The special advisor will evaluate the board's budget development process, benchmarks to access efficiency, and management capacity.
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