Petition to the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care: To Direct the Official Trustee to Preserve Accountability and to Protect Student Programs and Services in SD61 (Greater Victoria, BC)

To Lisa Beare, the Honourable Minister of Education and Child Care:

We, the undersigned, call on the Ministry to ensure that the Official Trustee of the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) upholds her responsibility to students, families, and staff by protecting core educational programming until a democratically elected Board of Education is reinstated or elected.

School District 61 is currently facing a $1.6 million deficit. To balance the budget, the Official Trustee is recommending deep, structural cuts to programs that are foundational to student success and well-being, including:

• Middle School Music: A 20% reduction targeting choir, jazz band, and musical theatre.
• Pathways & Partnerships: Significant cuts to career opportunities and hands-on learning for secondary students.
• Early Childhood Educators (ECEs): Reductions in essential support staff who provide the foundation for student well-being and early success in kindergarten.
• Youth and Family Counselors: Cuts in mental health support for students navigating emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges. This will significantly impact students who do not have the financial resources to pay for such services.

The Official Trustee was appointed by the Provincial Government following a policy dispute with the former elected board. While a trustee is required to balance the budget, their role in a "caretaker" capacity should be to maintain the district's integrity, not to dismantle award-winning programs that have been built over decades.

Unlike an elected Board, an appointed Trustee does not answer to the local electorate at the ballot box. This creates a deficit of accountability. 

While we recognize that school districts are responsible for their own budget allocations, the Ministry of Education and Child Care is responsible for the appointment and oversight of the Official Trustee.

We petition the Ministry to:

• Direct the Official Trustee to prioritize the retention of direct-to-student programming and support services.
• Uphold Democratic Integrity by ensuring that any permanent, structural changes to the district’s educational landscape are deferred until a democratically elected Board is in place.
• Ensure Accountability to the voters, who represent parents, caregivers, students, teachers, and staff, the true stakeholders of the district.

We call on the Ministry to ensure that the voices of the community are listened to and respected and to protect student programs and supports.

**Petition created by Advocacy for Music in Schools, a grassroots organization of families, educators, and community members to preserve music education in Victoria, BC.