COUNTY - The South Shore Regional School Board's $1.8 million surplus in 2009-10 was not what it appears to be, says its director of finance.

 "We, as a board, have what I consider very little accumulated surplus," said Wade Tattrie at a January 26 meeting.

 The lion's share is a restricted amount of over $1.3 million in school-based funds.

 "That belongs to individual schools, raised by kids, community members and teachers for use in their schools the way they deem fit. It's not available to boards in any way, shape or form."

 Those funds come from things such as bake sales, sporting events, dances, concerts, school fees, yearbooks, travel funds and donations.

 "Its uses vary greatly and may include school trips, sports equipment, computers, supplies, special events, playground equipment, extra books, software, breakfast programs, cafeteria supplies, and the list goes on and on."

 Earlier in the day, the Department of Education had released figures suggesting the province's school boards had accumulated surpluses of $45 million as of last March.

 "That's an unfair, inaccurate comment to say that $45 million is sitting there, available for our use," said Mr. Tattrie.

 Regardless, boards are required by legislation to not have deficits.

 "So at the fiscal year-end of March 31, this can be a difficult objective, given not all revenues and expenditures are known precisely and must be estimated."

 Of its half-million-dollar unrestricted surplus last year, the board ultimately allocated about $274,000 of that to balance its $74 million operating budget.

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 "The other thing about that is we had to get permission from the Department of Education to allocate that $274,000," said board chairman Elliott Payzant.

 "So any of these accumulated surpluses can be used by the board only with permission from the Department of Education."

 Education Minister Ramona Jennex had told the Chronicle Herald the $45 million in board surpluses was proof there's room for the province to cut their budgets.

 "It goes to show that the budgets that certain school boards are getting are more than adequate. ...They've been able to work within their budget and have money left over, so we see that there's potential savings around the budget process because of that information."

 The Progressive Conservative party said Ms Jennex should stop smearing school boards in her government's attempt to slash budgets.

 "Rather than undermine the credibility of school boards and their representatives, this minister should show some leadership and start a discussion about the real numbers with boards," said education critic Chris d'Entremont in a press release, adding the minister's use of accumulated surpluses as a measuring stick is meant to be misleading.

 "I think that any Nova Scotian who gave their hard-earned money to an elementary school fundrasier would be shocked to hear that money is now being used to exploit the local school board."

 This winter, the province directed school boards to consider ways of cutting their budgets 22 per cent.

 "That approach was irresponsible. We need to be determining our goals and outcomes for our education system and then funding it," said Liberal leader Stephen McNeil in a January 20 press release.

 "The current process is backward."

 The government has since announced it will provide information about the board's 2011-12 budgets shortly after a meeting with board chairs on February 3.

 Meanwhile, the South Shore board has scheduled a public meeting at Park View Education Centre for February 2 to address the issue.

 For more information about the board's financial statements, check on-line at http://ssrsb.ca/financial-information.html.

posted on 02/01/11