Education

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After a lengthy, last-minute emergency meeting, the Blue Water District School Board (BWDSB), passed a 'balanced' budget.

The Operating Budget of almost $200 million for 2011-12 was not passed without considerable debate and,  halfway through the meeting, the board moved into  Closed Session, only to be resumed some 45 minutes later.

Trustees Jan Johnstone (Kincardine) and Kevin Larson (Saugeen Shores) lead the move to attempt to have monies saved  and diverted directly into school budgets and classroom resources.

The savings from various areas of the overall budget however, were slight .  Under the 'Minor Tangible Capital Assets' budget of $544,000, only $25,000 was reduced with the elimination of new microphones for Board meetings.  In addition, $24,772 in ammortized money was allocated from the 'Computers for Teachers' program which was cut by 50 per cent.

Jan Johnstone said that she had talked with principals and teachers in her area who had good ideas of how to move money around into different areas that would result in the most benefit.

She subsequently made a motion that BWDSB direct any unrestricted professional development money to school budgets.  "I want to make sure that any money not accounted for in this budget will be used at the school level and that principals, with their teachers, will make the decisions," said Johnstone.  "Each school can make its own decisions to use any additional professional development money instead of it going into a central pot.|

"My concern is that we cannot, and should not, charge fees and in the fall we agreed costs associated with classrooms should be through public funding and I recognized that there would be a shortfall and, if money comes into the board, it should be directed to schools. Also, any initiatives that have a cost should come before the board," said Johnstone.  "I alsowanted to see part of Enhancement Program money go toward secondary schools.|

The major area of concern is declining enrolment, particularly in secondary schools.  "Are we thinking about how we are spending the money?" asked Trustee Kevin Larson.  "The Declining Enrolment grant of $1.6 million from the province is a significant amount.  How are we spending it?"

Trustee Fran Morgan pointed out that when it comes to the Outdoor Education Centre (OEC), "We have been lead along a path that money is not coming out of the budget for this but now we see it is and this facility is directed only to the elementary sector."

"I agree," said Johnstone.  "I see the lion's share [of money] going to the OEC and I would like to see some of that re-directed to secondary schools.  The Ministry supports it (OEC) and, therefore, I think 50 per cent of the $492,150 allocated for it in the budget, should go toward secondary school budgets to benefit classroom resources."

Trustee Terry Bell disagreed saying that, "When we look at the facility and its contribution to our students, I would be against doing anything with it."

A major savings comes with the closing of tech centres and loss of those teachers in addition to transportation to the tune of $842,066 in total.

On the other hand, the Educational Assistants' salaries and benefits are up by $700,000, classroom teachers salaries and wages have increased almost $2 million with benefits at more than $500,000.

Vice-Chair and Trustee, John Chapman commended Johnstone for her concern and stance to point out the implications that the budget has on classroom resources.  "There is significant inequity when it comes to the provincial funding formula for rural Ontario schools," said Chapman.  "We will be meeting with financial representatives from the Ministry on July 5 and we will make our concerns known."

At the end of the day, all seven recommendations that came before the board were eventually carried, some by a recorded vote, and the budget was passed just under the Ministry deadline of June 30th.

Trustee, Kevin Larson

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Thursday, June 30, 2011