MONTREAL — Individual school boards are having to make some tough choices after Thursday’s budget. Spending in education was increased by only 0.2 per cent.
“The budget was pretty scary in the numbers,” said Lester B. Pearson school board chairperson Suanne Stein-Day.
At the LBPSB on the west island, they’re taking a close look at Lindsay Place High School. The school in Pointe Claire is a large building with fewer and fewer students. But, a decision on whether or not to close it is a long way off.
Commissioners will vote Monday on whether they should consult parents, unions and the city about the best way to use the school.
“Is one of the recommendations going to be to close the school? That’s impossible for me to say at this point of time,” explained Stein-Day.
Across the province, English school boards are going to face tough choices.
“We’re talking about a shortfall of $350 million in the system,” said Marcus Tabachnick with the Quebec English School Board.
Boards have spent the last six years making cuts. Tabachnick said administration and overhead is now only three per cent of the budget.
“Our first priority is to maintain services and we’ll prioritize as best we can with the money we’re given.”
© Shaw Media, 2015