Lester B. Pearson School Board approves $276M budget
The Lester B. Pearson School Board will balance its books, despite a $1.6 million deficit.
The board approved its $276 million 2015-2016 budget last night.
The Ministry of Education has allowed the board to declare an deficit of more than $1.6 million.
The school board is using accumulated surpluses to balance the books.
The board says it's struggling to make up for a $13.5 million gap in funding for this school year.
Last spring, it launched a consultation process to embark on a "major school change" to address the budget shortfall.
Part of the cost cutting measures included eliminating all 18 elementary-school librarians working for the board.
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.