Thursday, June 13, 2013

School Board Balances Tough Budget


The South Shore Regional School Board has passed another difficult budget. The $73.4 million (revenue/expenditures) document was approved in a 7-1 vote last night. African Nova Scotia member Vernon Simms was the lone member to oppose the document. Simms felt the board wasn't involved in the budget process as much as he would have liked. Provincial funding was slashed again this year by nearly $1 million. However, staff were able to juggle the numbers to balance the books. The board saw its biggest savings in staff reductions, school closures and nearly $300,000 through a reduction of pension expenditures. The board was able to increase funding in the key area of skilled trades to the tune of $180,000.

How SSRSB balanced its 2013-14 budget:
  • Reduced 17 school based teaching positions
  • Reduced 2.5 non-teaching support staff due to school closures and realignment
  • Reduced 2.2 regional office positions
  • Reduced operating capital maintenance expenditures
  • Reduced transportation expenditures
  • Reduced telecommunications expenditures
  • Increased 2.55 school-based externally funded positions
  • Increased two school-based specialists to meet student services standards
  • Revenue received from the Province of Nova Scotia for targeted initiatives
  • Cost savings from defined benefit pension plan (non-teaching staff)
  • Operational cost savings from school closures
  • Cost savings from staffing cuts made in 2012-13 budget – August 2012 to July 2013 savings.