Trustees for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board approved a $113,357,564 budget, which includes an operating surplus of $1,229,818.
“I want to thank Associate Director Amy Janssens and her team for outstanding work in a very difficult budget year,” says John Van Heck, Chair of the Board.
“The changes in Ministry funding and a slight decline in elementary enrolment have challenged the Board to make difficult decisions,” says Deb Crawford, Director of Education. “But I believe we have arrived at a budget that best meets the needs of our students with the funding available in this new economic environment.”
The Board’s elementary enrolment is projected to decline slightly by 64.5 full-time equivalent students (FTE) to 6,071 (a 1.1% decline). In the secondary panel, a very slight increase of 5.8 students FTE (or about .2%) is projected, raising the total from the current enrolment to 2,501.93.
Although the variations in enrolment are modest, changes in education sector funding have resulted in some staff reductions. Redundancy notices have been issued to four teachers in the elementary panel and 3.33 teachers in secondary.
Additional layoff notices have been issued to staff in a further 12.5 positions, including early childhood educators, secretaries, child and youth workers, library and computer technicians and Board staff at the Catholic Education Centre.
It is the seventh straight year the Board has delivered an operating surplus, which is required under the Ministry’s public sector budgeting rules. The funds are directed by the Ministry to be set aside for future post retirement payments.
The approved budget will now be forwarded to the Ministry of Education.
