News release

Regulatory Change to Protect Primary: Minister

Education and Culture (to July 1999)

Education and Culture Minister Wayne Gaudet will change provincial regulations to require the Halifax Regional School Board to offer full-day Primary this September.

"Primary is too important to lose," the minister said today. "I plan to change the regulations, so the school board is required to offer full-day Primary this year, and in future years."

The minister said he respects the board's efforts to reduce its deficit, and a provincial plan -- rejected by the board Thursday night -- achieves this. However, the province's plan allows the deficit reduction to occur on a schedule that protects students and classroom programs.

"We put a plan on the table that would allow the school board to offer full-day Primary and reduce its deficit over time," Mr. Gaudet said. "Parents and teachers deserve to see the details of this plan, and I want to be clear: that plan remains on the table."

The province's plan combines bridge financing, an extension of the deficit-reduction schedule, and a reimbursement of funds paid by the school board on environmental projects. Specifically, the province would work with the board on a plan to eliminate its deficit by 2002-03. The board was also offered $4 million in bridge financing to support full-day Primary and other budget commitments.

The school board would be reimbursed for $1 million spent on environmental projects, including cleanup of an oil spill at Grosvenor-Wentworth school. As well, the province would ask the Education Funding Review Work Group to take a careful look at how the funding formulas affect growth boards like Halifax -- to assess if additional funding is needed in future years.

Regulations can be changed at the cabinet meeting in July, and be in effect for September.


NOTE TO EDITORS: Education and Culture Minister Wayne Gaudet will be available for comment at 3 p.m. Please contact Donna MacDonald at either the above number to arrange an interview.