Electors attending the Weyburn Central School Division Electors Meeting at Griffin School on April 11 found fewer students are attending the division's schools, but the board's budget was in surplus.

This year, 586 students attended schools, which was down from the 616 students attending last year.

"There are fewer people and a smaller number of children and families in this division," said board chairwoman Donnett Elder.

Elder added since 1995, 7,000 children have left the public school board system in Saskatchewan, and low birth rates have created and prolonged low enrollments for most divisions.

"Unless something changes, this will continue," said Elder.

The school board reported they had a $70,570 surplus last year, $11,214 more than was budgeted for.

The division spent less money on textbooks, and teachers salaries while experiencing savings with individualized school budgets. The salary decrease is not due to a decrease in teaching positions, but the existence of a different salary scale.

The distance education pilot project also cost the board fewer dollars than anticipated. This project uses the Internet to deliver one course in Fillmore.

One line item, plant operations and maintenance, was $41,336 more expected than planned. This was mainly because the 33 Central School roof repairs cost more than was planned for. The division also had to contribute funds to a roof project at Weyburn Comprehensive School.

Larger than expected expenditures were also experienced in when the board paved the parking lot at the Weyburn parking garage. The high fuel costs experienced when the price of crude oil was about $34 US, was also a small factor for the higher than anticipated costs.

The division's reserve fund is currently $757,942, which translates to a disposable surplus which would last for three school months. This figure takes into account the $537,983 in tax arrears in 1999.

Just under 98 per cent of this school division's revenue comes from taxes collected within the division. Only 0.14 per cent of the Central Board's budget came from provincial government grants, which is unlike most school divisions in Saskatchewan.

Christine Mazenc, the board's secretary treasurer said the allocation of foundation grants to school divisions are currently being reviewed by the provincial government but refused to speculate on what their findings might be.

The board also announced there would be a new computer lab for Midale Central School, which will be ready in before the next school year begins in August.

The work will be done over the summer months to minimize disruption to the children's learning environment.

"The wiring is already in the school, but has not been tested yet," said Al Boutin, the board's director of education. "We will be bringing in people to do the set up from start to finish."

Boutin added the work will include setting up a file server, installing software and testing the system.

School library collections have been cataloged on a computer system and can be checked out and checked in by a computer system, a new system added this year.

Boutin also announced Canadian Safety Association assessments on all playground equipment were conducted this year. The most serious safety concerns at all school playgrounds in the division have been dealt with. Remaining minor issues, such as laying rubber pellets or pea gravel on the ground near playground equipment have not yet been done but is part of each school's five-year plan.

"It will be dealt with as funds and time permit," said Boutin.