COUNTY - The South Shore Regional School Board is bracing itself for massive budget cuts.

 Director of finance Wade Tattrie announced during a recent meeting that the board has been asked by the province to make plans for budget reductions from the Department of Education of more than 20 per cent over the next three years.

 "I can't fathom how our schools are going to function with the numbers that were presented here tonight," said Bridgewater High School advisory council chairwoman Bonnie Minard.

 "The final decisions have not been made, but at the same time, I think there's no doubt we're going to have massive cuts," replied board chairman Elliott Payzant.

 Regardless, if necessary, the board would consider cuts anywhere and everywhere in order to maintain what's going on in regular classrooms, said Mr. Payzant.

 "Unfortunately, given what's going on right now, there are programs that we're going to have to look at. I don't want to start enumerating, but some of our extra programs that have received provincewide attention because of their successes are probably things we'll have to look at. ... Basic education that happens in the classroom is the last thing this board will look at to make cuts, but we may have to go there, too."

 Mr. Tattrie said boards across the province have been asked to prepare for $197 million worth of cuts over the next three budget years.

 "We and the Department of Education will need to report back to the government to tell them what public education will look like with these kinds of cuts, but the final decisions have not been made. This is part of the decision-making process, but this is where the government would like to go."

 The Department of Education's acting director of communications said it's important to point out that these are the early stages of the budgeting exercise and that there have been no final decisions.

 "We will be working closely with school boards to examine all the options," said Peter McLaughlin.

 "This exercise is really all about taking a hard look at where, and how, we are spending the almost $1 billion we invest in public education, and to make sure it is spent as effectively as possible."

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posted on 11/09/10