Education minister hints at more funding cuts

Nova Scotia's eight school boards will soon be told about the province's funding plans, but Education Minister Ramona Jennex declined to say Thursday whether more cuts are on the way.

However, she dropped a strong hint of what's in store.

"I am making sure that our budget is reflecting the reality of our situation in our schools," she said, adding that enrolment has dropped by 2,500 over the past year.

"I would like to have that discussion with the superintendents and chairs before I make it public."

Last year, the province cut $17.6 million in funding to school boards while requiring them to account for inflationary and salary costs.

Jennex made the comments ahead of Friday's release of her department's new plan for the education system.

She wouldn't reveal details, but said the plan would present a new vision for the system, including the role for smaller schools in isolated areas.

"I think it's very importantthat people know what we are doing well, what we need to work on and what we are working forward with," Jennex said after the weekly cabinet meeting in Halifax.

Jennex said the plan would expand on the ideas presented in a report released last May by education expert Ben Levin.

Levin's report caused a stir because it called for school closures and a reduction in the number of teaching assistants for students with learning disabilities or behavioural problems.

The report didn't say how many schools should be shut down, but Levin told reporters: "It's going to be 20, 30, 40, maybe more."

He said small, remote schools shouldn't be closed because it would lead to unreasonably long bus rides for students.