By Trevor Greenway

Local Journalism Initiative

The head of the Western Quebec School Board (WQSB) says he isn’t worried about the $1.1 million he is being forced to cut from his budget, but he is concerned about how another round of expected cuts this spring will affect students. 

WQSB Executive Director George Singfield told a group of school board commissioners Jan. 28 that while the plan to cut more than half a million dollars in salaries, plus another $500,000 elsewhere won’t affect students this year, he doesn’t see how the school board can cut more without disadvantaging students. 

“We could all make the argument that everything that we’re doing – this meeting – should be impacting students, frankly, indirectly, in a different way than standing in front of a classroom in front of students,” Singfield said during a public school board commissioners meeting Jan. 28. “However, there’s an impact, and so how do we minimize that impact?” 

Singfield continued. “And as we are asked to cut more, that becomes more challenging and difficult, and hopefully it won’t be as bad as some people think it will be, but we turn on the news, whether it’s French media, English media in Quebec, you’re hearing about cuts everywhere. This is not exclusive to education. This is everywhere.”

The WQSB cuts are part of the Quebec Education Ministry’s effort to cut $200 million from its overall budget by March 31, and while Singfield praised his commissioners for finding savings in things like caretaking contracts, salaries and board training, he worries about where to make future cuts. 

His commissioners presented a detailed financial plan during the meeting, where it was revealed that the $1.1 million reduction this year is a “one shot” savings, meaning they can’t cut the same amount from their budget every year. According to commissioners, recurring savings will only amount to approximately $361,000 every year.

“The concern is going to be if the government comes back in April and says, ‘By the way, now here’s round two,’ and then if we come back in September and they say, ‘Here’s round three,’ and then come back again and again. I hope that doesn’t happen, but I would be very, very surprised if we don’t see more cuts coming.”

Part of the challenge, according to Singfield and his commissioners, is that the province’s mandate to slash budgets came with the caveat that the cuts couldn’t affect students. And if you look at the list of cuts, it’s nearly impossible to imagine that these changes do not affect students. 

Half a million in salaries is being cut; a school psychologist won’t be replaced and the school board is losing its important lunch program for low-income students. 

 “We require a lot more help than we used to,” said Lord Aylmer school commissioner Cathy Goldsbrough during the meeting. “We need psychologists, sociologists, we need all kinds of people involved because the schools are raising a lot of the children. It’s not just a family situation in many cases. So we need a huge support network.” She suggested that commissioners each write a letter to the Ministry of Education to show how future cuts would have a “dramatic” impact on students.

“As taxpayers, and everyone here is a taxpayer, these are services that are essential,” she said. “They’re not philosophical.”

WQSB Commissioner chair Joanne Labadie questioned the Quebec government’s priorities, namely in its 2024 fall economic statement, in which politicians announced a $22 billion deficit and an additional $2 billion investment to “address the housing crisis.” She argues that housing, health, and education all fit together. 

“When you increase housing to address the housing crisis, education and healthcare go hand in hand,” said Labadie. “It’s fine to build new homes, but new schools and new education infrastructure and healthcare services come with it.”

Singfield said while the cuts are challenging, they only represent less than one per cent of the school board’s overall budget. 

He said he sees it as an “opportunity” to become a more efficient school board. However, there’s a limit to the services his school board can cut, and they’re close to that limit already. 

CAQ MNA for Gatineau Robert Bussiére did not return the Low Down’s calls for comment. 

WQSB Budget cuts by March 31

• More than half a million dollars in salary cuts
• $182,000 reduction in caretaking contract fees
• $65,000 reduction by cleaning exterior windows every two years instead of annually
• $200,000 reduction in not hiring four professionals for half a year
• $30,000 reduction by not replacing a school psychologist who is on extended leave
• $31,900 reduction in training and travel costs for staff