Province tells school boards to make cuts to balance budgets

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Kevin Doherty says school boards can lay off staff to meet a budget cut, but he admits that may not have clear in a letter sent to board chairs.

The letter from deputy education minister Julie MacRae to school division board chairs tells them to cut wages or benefits for employees by 3.5 per cent.

It also says the cut can’t be achieved through staff reductions.

Doherty says layoffs would be a last resort, but it is an option, and that will be clarified to board chairs.

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association says boards have already been trying to find savings through things such as joint purchasing and joint transportation.

But president Shawn Davidson says that won’t make up for the 55 million dollars the province has cut.

Davidson says school boards are being put in a very difficult position and asking for a 3.5 per cent reduction in compensation package with minimal changes to staff members is not possible.

More to come….