The Thames Valley District School Board of Trustees has approved a compliant budget of $1.2 billion for 2024-2025.
The preliminary budget first was presented at the Special Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee meeting on June 4, with final Board debate and approval at the Board meeting occurring on June 25.
"We appreciate the work of all staff, families and the community to help us deliver the best education possible," said Board Chair Beth Mai. "We acknowledge persistent funding challenges that school boards, including TVDSB, continue to face. We're experiencing the lowest level of per-pupil funding in more than 10 years. Something in the way school boards are funded needs to change if we are to ensure the integrity of our educational programs and services in the coming years."
Mark Fisher, Director of Education for TVDSB, said: "I'd like to thank the Board of Trustees for their continued advocacy with this budget. This is a challenging budget, and we have a responsibility to ensure we take a prudent, measured approach so that we can best meet the needs of our students."
The budget is fully compliant with Ministry of Education requirements and supports Thames Valley's Strategic Priorities, the Student Achievement Plan and the values of the Board of Trustees and the community.
Highlights of the 2024-25 budget
- An increase in support and staff related to Indigenous education.
- Focus on Literacy and Numeracy, including classroom math support teachers and resources.
- Social Work staff with awareness of community student mental health supports.
- Support for community engagement and building relationships.
- The 2024-25 budget was guided by the Board's new Strategic Plan and public input.
