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.
