School board money a hot topic

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

As part of their back-to-school packages, students in the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board area received a letter outlining the board’s concern about provincial budget restrictions.

In the letter, co-signed by board chairwoman Lavinia Parrish-Zwicker and superintendent Dr. Norman Dray, parents were informed about the “difficult budget process” that resulted in “several reductions in services in order to balance the budget.”

Dray says the letter was sent out to make parents aware the board’s financial situation could worsen - and possibly result in staff cuts - if the province does not increase future funding.

“That is a scenario that will force the board to make more hard choices for the 2009/ 10 budget,” says Dray, who encourages parents to support the board in its efforts “to ensure that education is funded appropriately in future,” by voicing their concerns about school funding directly to government representatives.