CSDM warns budget cuts will hurt school services
Montreal's French-language school board is warning parents that budget cuts will hurt student services including bus transportation, food and counselling.
Guidance counsellors, extracurricular activities could be slashed due to province's cost-cutting measures
Montreal's French-language school board — the Commission Scolaire de Montréal (CSDM) — is warning parents that budget cuts will hurt student services including bus transportation, food and counseling.
In a letter sent out to parents on Tuesday, the CSDM listed off the changes they may have to make:
- Reduce school bus service.
- Eliminate budget for neighbourhood committees, which funds various school activities including francization camp and sports activities.
- Eliminate commissioners' budget, which went towards parents' committees and helped fund activities such as proms and year-end parties.
- Reduce the scope of food services.
- Cut several positions including guidance counsellors, vice-principals, and special education technicians.
The school board is meeting with the provincial government today to discuss future funding.
Marie-José Mastromonaco, school commissioner for the CSDM in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, told CBC Daybreak host Mike Finnerty that the newsletter was not a pressure tactic, but a "reality check."
"The impacts are starting to be felt right now," she said.