The Anglophone South school district has again rejected their budget and the reasons have not changed.
The budget was previously rejected at their meeting in September.
Shortfalls in the area of $2 million for funding educational assistants mean they have to take from other line items in order to balance the books.
District Education Council chair Rob Fowler says educational assistants are essential in the classroom and they have around 100 on the payroll.
“We can’t do without. We cannot tell a child who comes into our system with severe challenges, ‘I’m sorry we don’t have any money for an EA, come back next year.’ That’s not an option for us. We run an inclusive education system. They are a valued part of our classroom and we need EA’s to support them.” Fowler said.
Fowler said another challenging area in their budget is the cost for replacement workers.
“We get a certain amount of days allocated per employee group to replace them when they are out on leave so bus drivers, teachers, custodians, etc., and that is woefully inadequate to what the reality is of the time that people miss so, we are short in those two areas,” Fowler said.
Fowler said it was suggested that a meeting be held with the education minister, other government representatives and all the provincial district education councils because they all face the same challenges, but that idea was turned down.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy has said he doesn’t want to discuss it until the budgets are passed.
The Anglophone East school district also hasn’t passed its budget.
