The Board of Trustees has passed a $130,998,620 budget for the 2023-2024 school year.
"This budget was developed in alignment with the Board's Strategic Plan and 2023-2024 Board Improvement Plan," says Scott Johnson, Director of Education. "We are committed to balancing supports for all students."
The 2023-2024 budget includes a deficit for compliance of $664,636, primarily due to a funding shortfall in transportation. Although transportation funding has not been reduced, the Ministry has introduced a new funding formula which does not completely align to the costs of providing transportation services for this region. CLASS Transportation Services, a consortium operated jointly with the Lambton Kent District School Board, will continue to collaborate with both school boards to analyze the extent of the difference and develop strategies to achieve a balanced transportation budget in future years.
"Other fluctuating budget items that are monitored rigorously include staff replacement costs and costs impacted by inflation, such as maintenance of facilities, due rising utility and commodity prices," says Amy Janssens, Associate Director - Corporate Services & Treasurer.
Priorities of the 2023-2024 budget include:
- Continue into year three of a three-year mental health and addictions strategy and annual action plan for mental health, informed by School Climate Survey results and School Mental Health Ontario;
- Continue a focus on engagement of all students through the Board's Equity Action Plan, Indigenous Education Action Plan, Special Education Plan, and supports for multi-lingual learners;
- Focus on curriculum - a continued implementation of revised curriculum; Reading Success for All; and implementation of new resources in the Growing in Faith - Growing in Christ curriculum; secondary de- streaming implementation; supporting literacy and numeracy for Grades 7 to 12; Support at-risk students for graduation;
- Engage secondary students in experiential learning and pathways planning;
- Board-owned devices and strong connections to the broadband network for every student and classroom educator;
- Board owned devices for all secondary students engaged in e-learning.
Budget estimates for 2023-2024 are in compliance with all Ministry of Education accountability and reporting requirements. The approved budget will now be forwarded to the Ministry.
