English school boards want firm commitment on library funding

Officials at two anglophone school boards say renewed support for libraries from the education minister won't accomplish much if it isn't backed up with increased funding.

• Quebec school boards budgets shrinking

• Yves Bolduc apologizes for library book comments

• Yves Bolduc, education minister, says schools have enough books

On Tuesday, Education Minister Yves Bolduc apologized for saying that no child has never died because of a lack of books.

• On mobile? Click here to listen to Daybreak'sinterview with English school board officials

He retracted his comments, and now hes asking school boards to re-establish their budgets for libraries.

Suanne Stein Day, chairof the Lester B. Pearson School Board, said she wantsBolductobacks up that plan with real cash.

I think its wonderful news, but we havent had a memo that says Were giving you back the money, Day told CBC'sDaybreak.

The Lester B. Pearson School Boards new budget includes a 37 per cent cut to libraries.

I have very little faith that there will be more money coming, Day said.

I think what [Bolduc is] going to do is ask us to find money in our already very thin administrative budgets and that just may not be possible.

But Quebec's education ministry said it never specifically asked schools to cut their school library budgets, and it won't bereversing previously announced cuts to school board budgets.

The English Montreal School Board is facing an $3.8 million in cuts for the upcoming year.

ChairAngela Mancini said it's a challenge to find placesto trim.

Our administrative costs are some of the lowest in the province, especially within the English boards, so I dont know where else you can cut."