2009-05-13
23:30:00
School District 8 is considering cutting out all summer programs, slashing the number of school bus routes and reducing the number of library assistants. All this is in anticipation of an expected one million dollar cut in the districts 2009-2010 budget. Director of Finance and Administration, Chris Toole tells CHSJ News there are several layoffs on the way--but-- he doesn't know the exact number until the province announces the official budget. Toole says the districts declining enrollment alone has meant 180 thousand dollars less in provincial funding this year. The total 2008-2009 budget was 90.5 million dollars.
Library Assistant at Forest Hills Elementary School, Alice Hayward says she expects half of the 10 existing library assistant positions in the district will be eliminated--and--that will hurt students.
Meanwhile, Chair of the District 8 Education Council, Rob Fowler tells CHSJ news he is confident staff can come back with a spending plan for the upcoming school year that will have the smallest impact on students. Fowler says the danger in reducing the number of library assistants is that students may not be able to find resources because the library could become too disorganized.
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