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 balanced budget last month, but at the same time it also passed a motion to write a needs budget letter to the Education Ministry.

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

The district says without more resources it will be difficult to provide everything from special education to clean, safe schools.

"We all have a legal obligation to make sure that public education is funded adequately," said board chair Edith Loring-Kuhanga. 

The board has the support of the Greater Victoria Teachers' Association, but acting president Jason Gammon says the board still 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.