AVRSB makes cuts to balance budget

At a special board meeting June 24, the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board was able to pass a balanced budget, but only after making cuts to everything from maintenance, transportation and technology to professional and leadership development and resources for teachers.

Superintendent Norm Dray said he was pleased that the Minister of Education was able to get some extra help for boards to cover rising energy costs. But he pointed out that although the AVRSB budget did not include any staff cuts, “next year we will have to make these cuts if there is not a substantial funding increase from the province”.

The budget of $122,822,714 covers the targeted funds needed for new programs mandated by the Department of Education that must be put in place and the mandatory expenses of the Board.

Programs and Services and Property Services were on the receiving end of most of the cutbacks. On a positive note, because staffing was put in place before final funding numbers were known, pupil/teacher ratios improved and special programs such as the International Baccalaureate and the experiential high schools were maintained while O2 (Skills and Trades) was expanded. Dray said he was “faced with trying to give good advice to the Board in a very difficult economic environment” while trying to remain true to the spirit of the Board’s commitment to working to provide the programs and resources students require.

Board Chair Lavinia Parrish Zwicker said, “preparing a balanced budget this year was a very difficult process,” but she was pleased the budget is set and "we can now move forward and make sure the current budget allocations are maximized to benefit the needs of our students.”