School board budget sees possible new busing deal

In a move to reduce transportation costs, students from both the Rainy River District School Board and Northwest Catholic District School Board may be riding the same bus down the road.
“We’re working with the [Catholic board] to combine our transportation needs, and so far, we’re negotiating our operator contracts,” said Warren Hoshizaki, director of education for the local public school board.
“Overall, we hope this will make things more efficient,” he added.
But Chris Howarth, controller of finance for the local Catholic board, stressed matters were in a “very preliminary stage,” and noted the deal may or may not be in place by this fall.
In fact, trustees have yet to discuss the arrangement, and won’t until the board sees the final draft of the 2000-01 budget at its June 27 meeting.
From the public board’s point-of-view, Hoshizaki noted the Ministry of Education continues to underfund the board in that area. And as reported in the 2000-20001 budget announced last week, transportation expenditures of $2,022,446 will be over the revenue allocation by $94,609.
Besides money saved on the deal with the Catholic board, the public board also will underspend by $188,974 in the area of board governance and administration–a sum to be divided between transportation and special education.
In related news, the public board will overspend the revenue allocation for classroom expenditures by $80,900, as well as overspend $402,340 on special education.
The budget, which is balanced at $29,570,486, breaks down as follows by expenditure:
•classroom teachers–$12,057,013;
•supply teachers–$560,500;
•teacher assistants–$1,394,066;
•textbooks and classroom supplies–$1,233,734;
•computers–$678,530;
•professionals and paraprofessionals–$548,532;
•library and guidance–$438,497;
•staff development–$164,039;
•preparation time–$1,788,071;
•principals and vice-principals–$1,431,207;
•department heads–$64,628;
•school office–$878,301;
•teacher consultants–$360,137;
•board administration & governance–$1,484,336;
•school operations–$$3,074,550;
•international languages/summer school–$17,500;
•transportation–$2,022,446;
•school renewal–$407,730;
•other capital and approved debt–$861,669; and
•other non-operating expenditure–$105,000.