The Rainy River District School Board will hold a special meeting here Monday night to vote on the 2004-05 budget as well as on what to do with a number of its properties, including Alberton Central and Sixth Street School.
The board was unable to complete its budget until the Ministry of Education released its funding numbers late last month.
The board’s finance committee identified specific challenges in this year’s budget, including a decline in enrolment of 116 full-time students, a cap on transportation funding, and the fact the board currently spends $800,000 more in teaching staff than what the board is funded for.
The preliminary budget to be submitted for the board’s approval Monday night is balanced, and includes new funding for primary class size reduction and transportation.
The ministry also approved funding for an energy retrofit initiative and a school renewal amortization fund.
The province has provided for a two percent increase in funding for wages and benefits, transportation contracts, utilities, and repair and maintenance costs.
But the finance committee warned this may not be enough.
“Overall costs have increased, or are expected to increase, greater than the two percent provided for in the funding model,” the committee’s minutes read.
As well, the provincial government only released 70 percent of the education budget last month. The remaining 30 percent will be distributed following consultations with school boards.
“The unallocated funding includes investments in special education, pupil accommodation, and students who need help the most,” the ministry said in a report May 25.
“Once the funding is released, the administration will proceed accordingly,” the finance committee said in its minutes.
The committee is recommending the board pass the budget as presented at Monday night’s meeting.
Also on the agenda Monday night is what to do with a number of board properties that are sitting vacant or unused.
The Fort Frances facility review committee is recommending the Alberton Central and Sixth Street School properties, as well as vacant properties on Minnie Avenue in Fort Frances, and Cedar Crescent and Abbott Road in Atikokan, be disposed of “in accordance with Ontario regulation.”
“It was determined that Alexander MacKenzie School may have a possible use and the committee will investigate further needs and partnerships,” the minutes read.
The committee also said it had received correspondence indicating an expression of interest in the MacKenzie property.
“A response has been sent to the interested party explaining the process for disposition of property that the board must follow,” the minutes read.
The board will receive a property evaluation and appraisal report for the Alexander MacKenzie, Sixth Street, and Alberton Central properties in July.
This special meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the boardroom at Robert Moore School.
Fort Frances Times
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