Bluewater arrives at a balanced budget despite provincial cuts

Education

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Despite the fact that funding to school boards is continually being eroded each year by the Province, regulations require that a balanced budget must be met.

According to the Blue Water District School Board (BWDSB), it has arrived at a balanced budget for 2010-2011 despite pressures created, in part, by declining student enrolment and grant reductions.

Although there has been a decline in elementary enrolment by 2.3 per cent, it is expected that it will be offset by the new full-day Early Learning Program (ELP), resulting in a net decline of 0.8 per cent.

Secondary school enrolment decline of 2.3 per cent however, will impact staffing levels.

Under the Special Education programs and services, there was a $1.4million shortfall which is to be offset by $0.5million in revenue combined with expenditure reductions.  The grant per pupil is $370.50, which is higher than the previous year, in addition to the newly created 'High Skills Major' programming which accounts for $0.6million or $35 per pupil.

Among the decreases in Provincial Funding is a one per cent (1%) reduction for transportation, underfunding for supply teaching, underfunding for classroom computers and school based ministry funding levels for teachers, education assistants and school office staff are not fully funded.

According to the BWDSB, the $186 million budget manages to keep the focus on student achievement. The Board's budget is 98 per cent fixed for items such as salaries/benefits, transportation, utilities and interest costs leaving only two per cent (2%) for 'discretionary' budget items.

For the full budget, go to BWDSB Budget

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Sunday, June 27, 2010