The Greater Victoria School District is considering more than a $1 million in cuts to music programs from School District 61’s budget.
In a draft of the district’s budget attached to the agenda for a special school board meeting scheduled for Tuesday April 13, 2021, the district is reporting a $7 million shortfall.
The recommended cuts affect middle school band programs most with $1,020,141 in cuts proposed affected about 9 teachers. Only some grade 8 programs will get a reinvestment of $273,346. Middle school strings and choir programs are set to lose $304,023 in funding, $213,662 will come out of elementary school strings programs. Oak Bay’s ukulele program and the district’s fine arts programs (Victoria Symphony/Vic Sings/Ukulele) may also be affected with proposed cuts of $16,132 and $12,402 respectively.
The school district is accepting community input on the budget through an online survey. To have your say, CLICK HERE.
There are 10 middle schools in the Greater Victoria District and they are Arbutus Global, Cedar Hill, Central, Colquitz, Glandford, Gordon Head, Lansdowne, Monterey, Rockheights and Shoreline Community.
The 2021-2022 budget presentation will be live streamed on the district’s YouTube channel at 6pm Tuesday evening.
