School District 27 trustees received and discussed the district’s audited Statement of Financial Information for the fiscal period June 2012 to June 2013 during their regular meetings Nov. 26, and Dec. 10.
The annual report for the fiscal period June 2012 to June 2013 is required to be filed with the Ministry of Education in January.
Among other things, the report is required to show a breakdown on trustee remuneration and expenses, which raised a question from the audience at the December meeting on why (now) Chair Tanya Guenther’s expenses were so much higher than the expenses of other trustees last year.
Guenther’s regular remuneration for the period was $13,746.03 with expenses totalling an additional $11,515.43.
Guenther explained that being self employed she is able to juggle her schedule to attend daytime meetings which other trustees are not able to attend.
“My work schedule is fairly flexible so I am able to attend more of the daytime meetings,” Guenther told the Tribune/Weekend Advisor. “It works quite well.”
A flexible work schedule was also the reason she agreed to let her name stand for and ultimately be elected as the school board’s new chair at the November meeting.
Guenther serves as ex-officio on all committees, business, First Nations, education, as well as the Cariboo Chilcotin Teacher’s Association liaison, and alternate to the B.C. Public Service Employees Association.
Comparatively expenses for the other trustees were as follows during the 2012/2013 fiscal year.
Jackie Austin: $12,764 remuneration; $6,055.58 for expenses.
Patricia Baker $2,418. remuneration; $285.01 expenses.
Chris Pettman, (who replaced Baker part way through the year): $6,820 remuneration, zero expenses.
Sheila Boehm: $12,584 remuneration; $7,140.90 expenses.
Joyce Cooper: $13,127.35 remuneration; $4,537.52 expenses.
Doug Neufeld: $12,551.74 remuneration; $2,770.47 expenses.
Will Van Osch ( former chair), $17,320.08 remuneration; $6,122.01 expenses.
The report is also required to include a breakdown on wages and benefits, as well as expenses of employees making more than $75,000 per year.
Almost 200 School District 27 employees make more than $75,000 per year.
Among this group are Superintendent of Schools Mark Thiessen at $126,792.47, plus $10,605.83 in expenses; Assistant Superintendent Harj Manhas at $132,65.69 per year plus $8,205.63 in expenses; secretary treasurer $129,618.16 plus $4,381.76 in expenses; director of instruction $112,125.07 plus $4,062.45 in expenses; facilities and transportation manager at $98,816.32 per year plus $4,945.98 in expenses; assistant facilities manager $80,271.54 plus $1,704.50 per year; assistant transportation manager at $83,356.13 per year plus $745.22 in expenses.
Income for principals ranges from about $77,000 per year to $112,000 per year.
Income for teachers in the $75,000-plus category ranges from about $75,000 a year to more than $126,000 per year with the majority being paid in the range between $76,000 and $85,000.
The district’s total expense budget for employees making more than $75,000 per year is $16,296,631.90 and $126,232.98 for expenses.
The total expense budget for district employees making less than $75,000 per year
amounts to $23,898,921.20 and $123,494.97 in expenses.
The employer portion of Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan paid to the Receiver General of Canada was $2,103,836.86.
In another schedule the district is required to report on suppliers who were paid in excess of $25,000 during the year.
This group includes BC Hydro and Power $679,910.58; B.C. Principals and Vice-Principal’s Association, $45,656.18; B.C. School Trustees Association $39,024.07; Pacific Blue Cross, $955,790.36; Workers’ Compensation Board $198,182.89; Pacific Carbon Trust $90,930; Save On Foods $27,003.84; Ricoh Canada $191,806.05. and many more small and large expenditures.
The total paid to suppliers where payments exceeded $25,000 amounted to $13,746,493.16.
The total paid out to suppliers where the amount paid to each supplier was less than $25,000 amounted to $3,283,451.18.
This information and more is available on the district website.