Budget talks continue for the Bluewater District School Board.
It totals just over 185 million dollars — it shows expenses have increased just over 1.3 per cent from last year’s budget and there is a shortfall of 2.2 million dollars.
Director of Education, Mary Anne Alton says due to declining enrolment they are seeing less provincial grants to help off set their expenses.
Alton says every year when they first see the figures for their budget it is discouraging but she’s confident they can balance it.
Preliminary figures suggest the board would have to eliminate 33 elementary and high school teaching jobs.
But Alton says they will hold a meeting Friday with Union presidents and trustees to review what kind of impact that would have and possibly avoid cuts.
The draft budget shows the board would only spend about 1.7 million dollars in school supplies for next year compared to 5.3 million last school year.
The Board would also spend 110 thousand dollars more next year on classroom computers.
Alton says they looked at both needs and decided to invest more in technology next year.
Alton says they have no timetable yet when the 2008-2009 budget will be approved but their goal is always to have it approved in June, before the school year is done
