The Vancouver School Board has unveiled its preliminary budget for the next school year and it looks like more belt-tightening is on the way.
The Board is projecting a shortfall of just over $7.1 million out of its nearly half a billion dollar operating budget. The board is considering cutting 47 teaching jobs, four vice-principals and some administrative jobs to save money.
In their 2009/10 budget proposal, trustees are also looking to cut $460,000 for furniture repair and replacement, equipment and school supplies.
There's already opposition to the proposed cuts.
"I think there's a political message that we need to be sending," CUPE Local 15 member Paul Faoro told CTV News.
"Quite frankly, it's unacceptable that the provincial government is forcing this board, this school system to make these kinds of cuts."
School closures are not being considered as an option despite decreasing enrollment in several schools.
The B.C. government funds 90 per cent of the board's budget according to enrolment numbers. More meetings and public input are scheduled before the final budget decision next month.
