VICTORIA — British Columbia's education minister says an independent report concludes the Vancouver's School Board can save millions of dollars by being more efficient and closing up to 19 schools.
Peter Fassbender ordered a review of the school board's finances and says it found $72 million worth of potential annual savings and one-time savings of $750 million.
Vancouver's board of education said last March that it was heading for a deficit of about $15 million, but Fassbender says the board's surplus this year will be about $28 million.
Fassbender wanted an audit after concerns about the board's consistent projections of annual deficit budgets, which always end up being balanced.
The report includes 59 recommendations, including accurate budget forecasting.
The school board has until June 30 to file a balanced budget and respond to the report.
