At a Board meeting on June 12, 2023, Trustees approved the OCDSB 2023-2024 operating budget of $1.1 billion and capital budget of $140.3 million.
In previous years, the Board was able to use accumulated surplus to offset deficits in the operating budget in order to meet learning needs related to the pandemic. That ability was no longer available for the 2023-2024 budget, and additional shortfalls were anticipated in relation to the removal of $10.0 million in COVID-19 funding and changes in provincial transfer payments. On receipt of provincial education funding, a budget shortfall of $19.0 million was confirmed.
Trustee Donna Blackburn, Committee of the Whole Budget Chair:
"In light of the fiscal reality we must all confront, this was a challenging budget experience. Nevertheless, staff were able to prepare a budget that will limit the direct impact on student learning, while finding necessary savings to remain balanced."
The focus was to develop a balanced budget which necessitated finding savings opportunities, while maintaining the high quality of programs and services that we offer. The identified savings were achieved through a detailed review of operating budgets to identify unused funds, repurpose funds to key priority areas, optimize special purpose grants, pause or defer spending and optimize revenues.
The budget also includes investments, most notably relating to learning, student and staff well-being, training for staff in behaviour management, and greening. The Board maintained its commitment to special education by continuing the Summer Learning Program and increasing staff support, and other initiatives targeting high risk and high needs students.
The OCDSB is growing, with enrolment projected to increase by 2,638 students for an average daily enrolment of more than 78,000 students.
Trustee Lyra Evans, Chair of the Board:
"I have had long conversations with senior staff through this budget process and I am very thankful for their hard work and perseverance. It's unfortunate to spend so much time thinking about what we have to take away from our students, our schools, when the real problem is that we are so critically underfunded. We should not be debating whether we reduce supports for special education or other students who are the most vulnerable. Society needs to have a hard conversation on how much provincial funding is actually needed to truly deliver the education students deserve."
Highlights from 2023-2024 Budget
- Total operating budget of $1.1 billion
- Total capital spending authorization is $140.3 million, including $61.90 million in capital priorities (such as the building of new schools), $10.8 million in school renewal, and $51.7 million in school condition improvement.
- 8,500.38 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, an increase of 173.43 (FTE).
- The increases are primarily due to increased enrolment; some refinements to staffing were made in response to the special education needs of students and in response to Board-identified priorities. In total, elementary staffing increased by 79.51 FTE while secondary staffing increased by 22.02 FTE.
- Additional investment of $430,000 in Educational Assistants addressing both learning and mental health needs and increasing additional Identity-Specific Social Work support for students with Deaf or Hard of Hearing needs and those who speak American Sign Language (ASL);
- $139.8 million in spending on special education ($2.0 million increase in from previous year)
- The budget includes adjustments to reflect the addition of a new specialized class for students with developmental disabilities and the addition of educational assistants and professional supports who will promote student well-being and mental health, student development and reengagement support.
- $500,000 investment in wellness and training for staff
- $300,000 investment in green/composting initiatives
- $300,000 investment in student learning supports
Background:
More details on the budget can be found here: https://www.ocdsb.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=55478&pageId=173455
