Greater Victoria School Board asks province for $8M

The Greater Victoria School Board says it's in danger of failing to meet its legal obligation to students because of underfunding.

The school district passed a balancedbudget last month, but at the same time italso passed a motion to write a needs budget letter to theEducation Ministry.

That letter, sent last week,includes a wish list that calls for 52 more teachers, 50 support staffand 10 speech language pathologists, at a total cost of $8.3 million.

The district says without more resourcesit will be difficult to provide everything from special educationto clean, safe schools.

"We all have a legal obligation to make sure that publiceducationis funded adequately," said board chairEdithLoring-Kuhanga.

The board has the support of the Greater Victoria Teachers' Association, but acting presidentJason Gammon says the boardstill underestimates the need after years of cuts.

"It's like trying to patch, you know, a gushing wound with a couple of bandaids," he said.

Victoria is one of many districts around the province applying pressure on the government for more funding. Last month the Vancouver School Board voted against a proposed budget that included $24 million in cuts.

The Education Ministry says it is spending an all-time high of $5.1 billion on public education this year,and all boards must balance their books by June 30.

With files from Megan Thomas.