Parents and Teachers in Quesnel are outraged at the news that the School District 28 (SD28) Board Trustees have given themselves a $5,000 raise.
During the Sept. 17 School Board Meeting, SD28 trustees self-approved themselves a 35 per cent raise on a verbal-only agenda item without discussion, which has left teachers and parents feeling “angry and astounded.”
In a statement issued by the Quesnel District Teachers’ Association (QDTA), President Dawn Rodger said she was “so angry I could barely speak” at the trustee’s decision.
“They acknowledged these raises are coming out of classroom funding,” Rodger said in the statement. “How dare they do that? They are literally taking money away from services to children.”
The timing of the Trustee’s decision also comes at a time when teachers and school support workers across the province are currently renegotiating for a new collective agreement with the provincial government.
“It’s especially galling right at the moment because BC teachers are in negotiations with the provincial government for a new collective agreement,” said Rodger. “We have to fight for every per cent increase. We can’t just grant ourselves a whopping 35 per cent!”
The QDTA stated in its release that the trustee’s self-approved raise is in breach of an established board policy, which holds that any increase in remuneration for trustees “should be based on the average negotiated salary increases” for SD28’s educators.
SD28 released a memo on its social media on Sept. 18, after the board meeting, that states the decision was the result of a “thorough review” of Trustees’ roles, responsibilities, and remuneration processes. Adding that the SD28 trustee stipend was “below the provincial average,” including Prince George and Williams Lake, and that this “adjustment” by the Board was a “one-time adjustment” to address the gap between the Quesnel District’s and the provincial average.
“Trustees are responsible for governance and oversight of a multi-million dollar budget, advocacy, policy development, and engagement in school and community initiatives,” reads the memo. “Fair compensation reduces barriers and encourages greater diversity and community representation.”
With the approved raise, SD28 Trustees will now make $19,321 from $14,231.
The QDTA said in its statement that parents are also upset and concerned with the situation, as the Trustees’ raise will allegedly directly cut classroom funding.
School Board Trustee Tony Goulet was the only trustee with a dissenting voice and voted against the raise.
Board chair Julie-Anne Runge, vice-chair Lisa Boudreau, Trustees Honey Affleck, David Chapman, Melissa Huska, and Cheri Maisonneuve approved the raise.
This current Board of Trustees was elected in October 2022, and approved themselves a 4.25 per cent raise in April 2024, as well as an 8.74 per cent raise in March 2023.
Vista Radio has submitted a request to determine the source of the funds for the raise. At this time, the Quesnel School Board Trustees have been unavailable for comment.
