The Ministry of Education had required schools that they reduce their expenses for the coming year by $ 570 million, including only $ 510 million for public schools.
On July 16, the Minister of Education announced that he was retreating to his previous decision and that he reinjected $ 540 million for “direct services to students”.
After cuts and reinvestments, what to expect in schools this year?
Several million less
Restrictions of $ 18.9 million had been taxed at the School Service Center of Premières Seigneuries (CSSPS), Quebec.
From this amount, the CSSPS only received a reinvestment $ 13.8 million in July. A shortfall of $ 6.1 million remains in the budget for the year.
Still in Quebec, the CSS of discoverers received only $ 6 million on the compressions of $ 16 million previously required.
Same challenge to the CSS of navigators, in Lévis. Compressions amounted to $ 15 million, and only $ 11 million was awarded to it in July. “So we still have to deal with a loss of $ 4 million,” deplores the organization.
As for the CSS in the capital, the organization will benefit from a reinvestment of $ 14.3 million conditional to the requested compressions of $ 15.8 million.
Return of services to students
At the CSS des Première-Seigneuries, the equivalent of 56 professionals who work full time directly with students had to be cut, such as technicians in special education (TES), attendants to disabled students (PEH) and educational advisers.
Not to mention the teaching tasks, “since certain adjustments were made in schools to reach the requested budget target”. Administrative services also received.
“This amount made it possible to return to the initial staffing plan for students’ services, that is that tabled by schools before the cuts, for TES and PEH,” said the center in a written response to Soleil. Human resources have continued their recruitment with the usual pace.
On the side of Lévis, the sums restored in July allow “a room for maneuver”, which is reflected for example by the addition of four assistant steering positions in primary and secondary schools, which had been removed in June.
Food aid in primary schools and francization services have also been reinstated since the decline of the Minister of Education.
The softens also allow the strengthening of support for pupils in difficulty. “Compressions notably limited our ability to provide punctual support to pupils in difficulty [ex.: ajout d’heures de soutien pour répondre à une situation particulière]”Explains Louise Boisvert, spokesperson for the CSS of navigators.
More expensive for extracurricular?
Budget reduction for extracurricular activities is 20 % rather than 50 % at the CSS of browsers. The decrease is less brutal, but may be felt in schools.
School outings, libraries, cultural outings and the “at school on moving” program are affected by this budget reduction of 20 % for the year.
“Cultural, sporting and socio-community parascolia activities will take place. However, in some cases, especially for extracurricular activities, a slight increase in costs for parents is expected, ”warns Louise Boisvert.
School decision
For its part, the CSS of the capital continues its puzzle for the adoption of its budget.
“Before July 16, we had not yet identified any posts to be cut; We were still in the state of hypotheses. In connection with budgetary restrictions, we are currently continuing our analyzes to determine the choices to be made in the coming weeks, “said spokesperson Jade Thibodeau.
The organization continues its budgetary planning to aim “primarily a reduction in expenses at the level of administrative services”.
It is still too early to know which services exactly will be affected by budgetary restrictions, but the choices to be made with regard to the changes in extracurricular activities and school outings will return to school departments, specifies Ms. Thibodeau.
