C.B. school board considers cuts

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board has yet to decide how it will deal with a $5.1-million shortfall this year.

Superintendent Ambrose White said the board is looking at every option, including teacher layoffs.

"We're looking at all cost centres across all divisions before we go to any personnel. At the end of the day, the last place we want to go is people and staff, but we may come to that," he said.

Nova Scotia's school boardsmust absorb about$19 million in cutsbecause theprovincial governmentis cuttingtheir grants.

The Cape Breton-Victoria board will meet several times this week. Board members will then vote on the options.

Meanwhile, declining enrolment, over-capacityand a cut in funding has forced the board to review six schools for possible closure:

• Ashby Elementary
• Cornwallis Elementary in Sydney
• East Bay Elementary
• Gowrie Memorial in Port Morien
• Middle River Elementary
• Robin Foot Elementary in Westmount