January 8th

Went to visit Margaret, the school secretary for dinner. Dinner was preceeded by some work. The school had lost a child with special needs which had effected their budget. Two Integration Aides (SNAs) were being cut from ten hours to seven hours per week. I also needed to find an extra hour for the numeracy co-ordinator and three and half hours for the school secretary. The whole budget is done on a programme called SAS 2000 and everything including teachers’ and Integration aides’ salaries is paid out of the budget. I very quickly had to familarise myself with the overall budget and in particular Column S, Column N and EMU. (don’t ask!) I managed, with Margaret’s help to all of the above and even found money to keep the integration aides’ hours. All within a budget surplus of not less than 10%. Feeling of achievement especially as the whole concept was foreign to me. I do prefer, so far, the Irish system where all salaries are paid centrally. Less work and responsibility.