STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES TO BE AFFECTED BY SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS

A South Shore woman involved in the education system says students with learning disabilities will be the first to suffer from proposed provincial funding cuts.

Cathy Croft of the South Shore regional school board is a learning facilitator for students with severe learning disabilities.
She says if the province cuts 120 million dollars (over the next three years) to education on the south shore, some students will be excluded from the classroom.
Croft says the inclusive classroom model adopted in Nova Scotia will be dismantled when teacher's assistants and specialized programs are cut.
If the proposed cuts become a reality, the South Shore Regional School Board will try to cope by increasing classroom size, and decreasing in-class support and therapies for students with autism, learning disabilities and other behavioural needs.

FINAL DECISION ON SCHOOL "GRAY ZONES" COMING IN NEW YEAR

The South Shore Regional School Board will wait until the new year to make a final decision on student .. gray zones.

The board is hoping to eliminate areas from which students are attending more than one school.
A number of information sessions took place as school officials sought feedback from parents, students and citizens.
The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for January 26th.