Heather Latter
The Rainy River District School Board last week approved its 2015-16 balanced budget of $50,209,961, which includes $3 million in amortization—pending approval from the Ministry of Education for the use of $482,259 from accumulated surplus.
It represents a 0.2 percent increase over the 2014-15 budget.
Superintendent of Business Laura Mills presented the budget to trustees, highlighting the stakeholder feedback received from 45 responses in the online survey.
They also received feedback from the Rainy River District School Board First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Advisory Committee, the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program School Council, North Star Community School Council, Mine Centre School Council, Donald Young School Council, and Student Senate.
Mills said there was a request for continued support for professional development and resources to support aboriginal culture and history in the board.
“We do want to point out that the budget does include just over $382,000 to support Native as a Second Language and native studies, as well as $299,000 to support professional development and resources within the system,” she noted.
Another request was for increased staffing levels for education assistants.
“I’m very pleased that this budget is realizing an increase in EAs of almost nine FTE [full-time equivalent],” Mills said, adding there also was a request for investment in additional technology.
“This budget includes an increase of $343,000 in computer technology over last year,” she noted.
Stakeholders also requested continued support for “Reading Recovery,” and for a behaviour therapist, mental health nurse, and lead.
Mills noted the budget continues to support these programs and initiatives for the upcoming school year.
Finally, it was asked that the board maintain support for field trips and for lunch programs at secondary schools.
Mills indicated the budget currently supports schools with field trip allocations.
“And right now we are going out for an RFP [request for proposal] for lunch services at all three secondary schools,” she noted.
Mills told trustees the budget was built based on the board’s strategic plan.
“The budget is based on enrolment,” she added, providing a chart showing enrolment projections for the next five years.
“We are projecting a four percent decrease in elementary for next year and a .22 decrease in secondary, for overall of 2.64 from this current year,” Mills said.
“We are seeing the decline go back up to our average between two and three percent over the next five years, which is a typical historical value for us,” she added.
Mills explained budget revenue comes from Grants for Student Needs (GSN) and municipal taxes, tuition fees, Education Program-Other Grants (EPO), other revenue such as interest, and reserve draws for approved commitments.
The majority of expenditures in the budget is for salaries and wages.
Other expenditures include benefits, professional development, supplies, utilities, fees and services, transportations fees, capital debt, and amortization.
“Despite declining enrolment, the board has again been presented with a balanced budget, one resulting from purposeful and responsible but often difficult decisions,” said board chair Dianne McCormack.
“We are very happy to have approved the 2015-16 budget which supports the Rainy River District School Board strategic plan and priorities identified through stakeholder input,” she added.
“With this budget in place, we can look forward to another positive and productive year.”
Also at its monthly meeting last Tuesday, the board:
•approved the award of tenders to perform renovations at Rainy River High School and Atikokan High School;
•presented a bus driver award, volunteers award, and community partners award;
•approved the following policies for stakeholder consultation—6.20 (School Attendance Zones) and 6.50 (Student Accommodation);
•received the notice of intent to amend the board’s procedural bylaw, Section 8.2 (Public Delegations) to include Public Delegations for Student Accommodation Reviews;
•authorized administration to execute the contracts with Thunder Bay Telephone for fibre services;
•authorized administration to execute the Facility Partnership Agreement with the Rainy River Playschool Inc;
•approved the following policies—3.86 (Employee Code of Conduct) and 5.25 (Environmental Education); and
•approve the following policies for stakeholder consultation—2.05 (Communications and Media Relations) and 7.00 (Occupational Health and Safety).
