MANITOUWADGE – There is frustration in Manitowadge as cutbacks in the budget for Manitouwadge High School are being cut. The cuts will mean at least three fewer students in the high school, a situation that residents and students are saying is unacceptable.
Ontario News North has shared this video and files with NetNewsledger.
Superior-Greenstone District Board Meeting of May 22nd recorded in Manitouwadge, where approximately 130 people were in attendance, where the board was live via videoconference. Manitouwadge students, parents, teachers, residents-at-large were very displeased with reduction of the teaching staff of MHS by more than 3 positions for the 2012-13 school year. This will be leaving the school with less than 10 teachers for an estimated student body of approximately 100.
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People are also very bothered by the fact that the school receives Supported Schools Allocation from the provincial government because it is in an isolated location, and at least 45km from the nearest board school. This high school is actually 100km away. The minimum of 14 teachers at the school is to met the benchmark salary for teachers based on the funding from the Ontario Government.
Among the reasons the board is providing for this is that the money is spent elsewhere, ONN reports, “possibly at another school all together, or for other programs, they gave the example of special-ed and even at one point – full day kindergarten.
The Board spends an additional $600,000 on special ed and another $500,000 on full day kindergarten according to the report from the Board of Education.
Money is being taken from other grants other than salaries.
The Board of Education is mandated not to run a deficit, and is looking at some serious adjustments to the budget.