MONTREAL — Individual school boards are having to make some tough choices after Thursday’s budget.
Spending in education was increased by only 0.2 per cent.
“The budget was pretty scary in the numbers,” said Lester B. Pearson school board chairperson Suanne Stein-Day.
WATCH: Lester B. Pearson School board chair Suanne Stein-Day speaks about the difficult decisions ahead
At the LBPSB on the West Island, they’re taking a close look at Lindsay Place High School.
The school in Pointe-Claire is a large building with fewer and fewer students. But, a decision on whether or not to close it is a long way off.
Commissioners met Monday night to begin consultations for the major school change initiative.
Parents and concerned groups have until the end of October to submit a brief and public consultations will start in November.
READ: Lester B. Pearson press release
“Is one of the recommendations going to be to close the school? That’s impossible for me to say at this point of time,” explained Stein-Day.
READ MORE: Quebec budget worries English school boards
“We’re talking about a shortfall of $350 million in the system,” said Marcus Tabachnick with the Quebec English School Board.
Boards have spent the last six years making cuts. Tabachnick said administration and overhead is now only three per cent of the budget.
“Our first priority is to maintain services and we’ll prioritize as best we can with the money we’re given.”
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