Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 28/01) - Yellowknife Catholic Schools are cutting $62,000 from programs this year to help pay for teachers' salary increases.

The move comes despite a surplus projected at $658,000.

Areas getting the axe include literacy, professional development and a mentor program that helps new teachers adjust to the North, says superintendent Kern Von Hagen.

Almost $100,000 of the surplus comes from savings created by school administrators within the Catholic system. The schools get to keep the money as an incentive to save and to try new things, Von Hagen said.

Another $150,000 is being set aside in the capital reserve, which could be used to help pay for a new school in the growing Catholic system

The remaining surplus "is not that big for a board of this size," says outgoing assistant superintendent Sheila Devine, who is in charge of finances. She says it's well within government guidelines, which recommend a surplus in the five to 10 per cent range.

The Catholic system's annual operating budget is about $15 million. Contracting out janitorial services saved about $12,000 earlier this year.