"Public education is an investment, not an expense" - D'Aoust - QESBA President calls for budget that will reward student success, effective school board management

MONTREAL, March 19, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - On Budget Day tomorrow, the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) will be looking for "fair and responsible treatment" of public education, QESBA President David D'Aoust noted in a statement released today. "Public education is an investment, not an expense. Our nine-member school board network maximizes every public dollar towards the success and well-being of our students. We will be counting on the government to give us the tools in tomorrow's budget to continue that essential work," D'Aoust said.

Quebec's English public schools serve some 105,000 students in elementary and secondary schools, adult and vocational centres across Quebec. This network is currently posting average graduation rates of close to 80 per cent (and striving daily to improve upon that number) which represents the Quebec-wide target set for the Year 2020. In so doing, it succeeds in devoting almost 95 cents on every dollar directly to classroom services. The remaining five per cent represents the most efficient level of administrative expenditures of any level of public administration in Quebec.

"Our school boards are in the business of delivering quality education, and in a fiscally responsible fashion," D'Aoust concluded. "We understand the tough current economic realities, and are ready to do our part. But, we will need the government's help. That means two key things in tomorrow's budget: a reasonable increase in the financing of our system costs to operate our schools effectively and an assurance that the final budget rules and spending estimates will maintain the integrity of that funding."

QESBA will be present at tomorrow's budget lock-up, and available immediately afterwards to comment on the budget and its likely impact on our schools and services.

Kim Hamilton
Director of Communications and Special Projects
514-849-5900, ext.: 225/© 514-919-3894