Types of Expense

The major expense in education is the cost of teachers' salaries and benefits. The regional school board currently estimates average salaries and benefits at $55,000 per teacher. Schools are allocated teachers according to an 18:1 student-teacher ratio. Thus as enrollment declines, it is increasingly difficult to retain enough teachers to deliver the required number of programs. In order to be economically viable, the Margaree Community-Operated Public School will need the freedom to design, in a participatory manner, the best arrangement among the variables of enrolment, student-teacher ratio, programs and teachers' salaries.

Administration and Instructional Costs include teachers' & administrators' salaries and benefits, and secretarial staff.

Contracted services include janitorial services, program assistants, special education and substitute teachers.

Instructional aids include the cost of textbooks and technical equipment such as computers, including service contracts and maintenance. The traditional classroom resources such as books and other materials have been inadequate at the high school level in Margaree. Budget scenarios #2 and #3 propose that program resources attain a higher priority both for the traditional classroom materials and for other media and outside support. The appropriate use of modern technology is a key to the enhancement and diversification of programs in the Margaree Community-Operated Public School. The school business plan must allow for the maintenance of state-of-the-art hardware, systems and software in a way that retains effectiveness, but does not become an onerous burden on the economics of education.

Property services include anticipated expenditures for utilities, communication, supplies, repairs and maintenance.

Operation includes library services, purchase of office supplies and other miscellaneous services.

Transportation: As previously stated, the regional school board is operating a safe and efficient conveyance system for students. To take advantage of economies of scale, conveyance will be contracted to the regional school board, supported by transportation grants from the Department of Education. For purposes of this document, neither revenue nor expenses have been included for transportation.