Lester B. Pearson School Board spares some librarian jobs
West Island-based English-language board says it's trying to make up for $13.5M funding gap
The Lester B. Pearson school board won't be losing all of its librarians this year after all.
The board was able to absorb some of the $13.5 million shortfall in provincial funding by reducing head office staff.
The board said it was also able to retain its special needs program by reallocating funds.
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The English-language board, one of Quebec's largest school boards, approved its $276 million 2015-2016 budget earlier this week. The Ministry of Education has allowed it to declare a deficit of more than $1.6 million. The school board is using accumulated surpluses to balance the books.
Board chairwoman Suanne Stein Day said commissioners had to get creative when it came to dealing with this school year's budget.
"There were some tough decisions and some tradeoffs to make," she said.
All 18 librarians working for the board received layoff notices earlier this year.
"We were able to bring back some of the librarians," Stein Day said.
"We were able to ensure that every elementary school library will have a professional documentation technician there to support the activities of that library."
Stein Day said they also had to figure out how to make up for a $3-million reduction in subsidies, mainly to grants for students with special needs.
The board reallocated money to maintain the $10.5 million budget for its special-needs program.
Stein Day said the board is also ready to defend the hiring of two or three more aides, if necessary.
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.
Last spring, it launched a consultation process to embark on a "major school change" to address the budget shortfall.
It has cut nearly 15 positions in its head office through attrition. Stein Day said it hasn't ruled out closing schools if need be.