Rainbow District School Board approved a budget of $249.3 million for the 2024-2025 school year at its regular meeting on June 17, 2024. To balance the budget, $704,045 will be withdrawn from reserves. Along with the budget, trustees approved an in-year deficit plan to align expenditures with revenue.
"With this budget, students will continue to receive a high quality education in high quality facilities," said Board Chair David Farrow. "Our greatest cost is staffing, which has a direct impact on learning. Our wonderful team of administrators, instructional leaders, teachers and educational support staff enable students to achieve their full potential in school environments that foster a strong sense of belonging for overall well-being and academic achievement."
He added: "We are proud of the excellent programs that we offer and will urge the Government of Ontario to continue to invest in education. When we invest in education, we invest in the future of our young people and the prosperity of our community, our province and our country."
The budget maintains programs and services adjusted to include the terms and conditions of collective agreements that have already been negotiated, provisions for those still in progress, and some inflationary pressures, such as increases in the cost of utilities. Additional investments from the Ministry of Education are also reflected in the budget, including resources for early reading, math, the trades, mental health, and safe schools.
When school resumes this fall, the Board is projecting enrolment of 14,193.5 students. Enrolment projections consider historic retention rates, the flow through of each grade, and information on population growth or decline.
The base funding provided by the Ministry of Education, Core Education Funding, consists of six pillars - Classroom Staffing Fund, Learning Resources Fund, Special Education Fund, School Facilities Fund, Student Transportation Fund and School Board Administration Fund. Core Education Funding replaced Grants for Student Needs or GSNs.
Core Education Funding for 2024-2025 has been adjusted to account for the end of the learning recovery funds provided during COVID-19, the second year of a realignment of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies allocation within the Indigenous Education Grant, more support for Indigenous Education priorities within the Board Action Plan, a new funding approach to purchase equipment for students with special needs, the second year of a new funding framework for student transportation, and capital allocations for school renewal projects.
The Ministry of Education also funds Responsive Education Programs, formerly known as Priorities and Partnership Funds. This targeted funding will ensure the continuity of programs currently underway to provide additional support for students, including reading interventions and resources, digital math tools, math facilitators and demonstration classrooms, Indigenous graduation coaches, the ongoing promotion of skilled trades and implementation of de-streaming as well as special education and mental health supports for summer learning. Funding has also been allocated to screen students for early reading in the second year of Kindergarten as well as Grades 1 and 2.
Funding will ensure the ongoing improvement of broadband, including network connectivity, network infrastructure, network security and related network operations. New funding has been provided to install vape detectors in schools.
A total of 76.5 percent of the budget, or $188.7 million, has been allocated to salaries and benefits. Just over eight percent of the budget, or $20 million, will go towards supplies and services, which includes the operation and maintenance of facilities, school budgets, and computers in schools. A total of 11.3 percent, or $20.5 million, will go towards fees and contracts, including the transportation of students to and from school. Rainbow District School Board will receive $15.5 million in school renewal and school condition improvement funding. This represents 6.3 per cent of the budget.
The budget provides the financial framework to enable the Board to achieve the priorities in its strategic plan which will enter its third year of implementation. There are six priorities in Strategic Directions 2022-2027 - Student Success and Achievement, Literacy and Numeracy, Truth and Reconciliation, Mental Health and Well-Being, Environmental Education and Sustainability, and Equity and Inclusive Education.
In 2024-2025, Rainbow District School Board will operate 29 elementary school buildings and 9 secondary school buildings in Sudbury, Espanola, and Manitoulin Island. The Board also offers other programs - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program, Cecil Facer School, N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, Children's Treatment Centre, O'Connor Park, Applied Behaviour Analysis program, Restart, Simulated Healthy Independent Living Opportunities (SHILO) program, Attendance Centre, Mishko-Ode-Wendam, Northern Support Initiative, Frank Flowers School and Barrydowne College operating at Cambrian College.
