Friends of Vic High Demand a Full Independent Audit of SD61 Financials

SD61's current budget issues are linked to broader fiscal mismanagement that may irreparably harm music programming, athletic programs, and more.

Upgrades to Burnside School highlight this issue. SD61 failed to procure Ministry funding for Burnside's extensive upgrades and went $5.5M over budget- so far. The Friends of Vic High (FOVH) exposed this issue in December 2020. 

SD61 continues to cite budget shortfalls stemming from Vic High's heritage preservation as the rationale for leasing away Vic High land. However, they are unable to substantiate this claim. 

Meanwhile, all evidence points to Burnside's deficits as the source of the $2.6M shortfall. SD61's proposed lease of Vic High land to pay for the $2.6M shortfall has caused a land-use conflict that interferes with Vic High’s Memorial Stadium Revitalization Project (MSRP). See the video for more details.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BZJK-d5OLyZFsBxWW94T4VmWUmT7tvZk/view

FOVH is calling for a full, independent audit of SD61 financials, including upgrades to Burnside, SJ Willis, and Vic High. Looking to fix the current budget without a full audit doesn’t address the systemic mismanagement that is the root of the problem.