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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.