Additional funding for school boards

"I am pleased to announce that we have completed our analysis of our year-end financial position and that sufficient money has been identified to reimburse school boards for the legal expenses they have incurred as a result of reorganization," said Judy Foote, Minister of Education, today. "The total estimated costs for these expenses is $94,000."

In September 1999 Minister Foote indicated that if sufficient funds remained in the Department of Education�s budget at year-end, she would be prepared to consider reimbursing boards for their legal costs. Today�s announcement honours that commitment to school boards.

In addition, the Department of Education has provided an additional $400,000 for school board operations for the current school year. The provision of this additional funding will assist boards to cover increased utility and other costs.

"I know that these extra costs have been a concern for some school boards. I am very pleased that we have been able to find the resources to assist boards with these expenses," added Minister Foote.

"This is good news for school boards throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Reimbursing boards for these costs demonstrates that government and the Department of Education are committed to ensuring that school boards are adequately funded. The money that has been spent on legal fees and utilities can be invested in the classroom. Clearly government recognizes, as do we, that the priority must be to direct maximum funding to benefit the education of the students in our province," said June Alteen, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards� Association (NLSBA).

Media contact: Andrea Maunder, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2000 03 08                                                 4:45 p.m.