Lester B. Pearson School Board approves $276M budget
Board says it's trying to make up for $13.5M funding gap
The Lester B. Pearson School Board will balance its books, despite a $1.6 million deficit.
The board approved its $276 million 2015-2016 budget last night.
- Lester B. Pearson school board launches major review
- Lester B. Pearson board students, parents protest librarian cuts
- Lester B. Pearson teachers use report cards as pressure tactic
The Ministry of Education has allowed the board to declare an deficit of more than $1.6 million.
The school board is using accumulated surpluses to balance the books.
The board says it's struggling to make up for a $13.5 million gap in funding for this school year.
Last spring, it launched a consultation process to embark on a "major school change" to address the budget shortfall.
Part of the cost cutting measures included laying off 18 elementary-school librarians working for the board. The board has since said it was able to spare some of those jobs through attrition in other areas.
The school board's expenses — most of which are tied up salaries — have been rising more quickly than its revenues, which come from Quebec's education ministry.