News

Balanced budget approved by Upper Canada District School Board

Posted Jun 30, 2011 By EMC News
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EMC News - The Upper Canada District School Board last week approved a balanced budget totaling $350.7 million for the 2011-2012 school term.

Board Chair Greg Pietersma outlined that the new budget represents an increase of $15 million above last year''s budget. "Our budget is balanced and is in compliance with all ministry expectations. We commend the Ministry of Education for providing our board with specific envelopes of funding to address our unique needs such as the $2.1 million Geographic Circumstances Grant, which recognizes the enrolment challenges faced by small, rural schools," he explained.

It was noted that 86 per cent of the board''s government funding is determined by the level of student enrolment at the board. Enrolment at the elementary school level has leveled off while secondary school enrolment continues to decline because of the demographics of eastern Ontario. "That is the reality for all school boards in this part of the province," said Pietersma.

Pietersma emphasized that the budget is directly aligned to and driven by the Board''s CREW strategic plan and its key goal to achieve a 90 per cent graduation rate by or before the year 2020. "We have implemented several key strategies to support all of our students in the interest of seeing a higher percentage of graduates at our high schools. Those initiatives, made possible with the correct budget support, include full-day early learning programs, enhanced supports for Native studies courses (one of the highest number of courses offered in the province), transitioning to Learning Commons informationists to support the resource demands of 21st century learners, innovative professional learning programs for teachers, support staff and principals, specialist high skills majors, literacy and numeracy projects, computer technology, school success plans, special education, and differentiated instruction.

Added Superintendent of Business Rick Gales, "After dealing with our deficit in a timely fashion, we now find ourselves well positioned, through continuous improvement, to more effectively pursue our goal of a 90 per cent graduation rate. The 2011-12 budget is a good news story. The budget is balanced and all the services that the Board of Trustees fought to preserve are intact. This does not mean status quo, it means some changes will occur to strengthen the Board''s position in support of student learning and outcomes."

The budget is also supporting the Building 2020 initiative which will see four more high schools changing their grade structures to grades 7 - 12. Those schools are Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School (CCVS), Rideau District High School, North Dundas District High School, and Gananoque Secondary School.

Next year, the Building 2020 process will continue with the September 2012 introduction of grades 7-12 structures in the Athens, Almonte, Brockville, Carleton Place, North Grenville and Rockland families of schools. The relocation of Kinsmen Vincent Massey School programs and services to CCVS and Central Public School in Cornwall will also take place in September 2012. In all, the Building 2020 process has seen the closure of 11 schools to date, with Maple Ridge & General Vanier Intermediate School scheduled to close in September 2011 and Carambeck Elementary School still scheduled to close effective September 2012.

"The board''s smooth transition of all of these changes, through the Building 2020 process, is testament to our strategic plan and the support of our school principals and communities," said Gales.

Also identified in last week''s budget presentation was the construction of three new secondary schools, with a fourth scheduled for completion in 2012. "These supplement the six new elementary schools constructed over the last few years. Despite this flurry of construction, the inventory of schools in need of replacement is still extensive. The need for capital investment is far greater than the funds that will be made available for new schools," Gales clarified.

Director of Education David Thomas says the key issue is to provide assurance that the Board''s financial and educational affairs are well managed, that information is available and accurate and that the Board is well positioned to move forward on a number of issues, including:

- Investing in students as the first priority and remaining focused on the Board''s goal of 90 per cent of students graduating with their cohort.

Thomas added, "In support of this goal, the Board is investing in:

- The new library model known as the ''Learning Commons'',

- Full day junior and senior kindergarten programs. By this September the board will offer those programs in 23 elementary schools - 14 with the Early Learning Program and 9 with the Ready 2 Learn Program,

- Renovation and construction of new schools,

- Continuing the move to Junior Kindergarten - Grade 6 and Grades 7-12 schools model,

- Programs tailored to support the needs of students, and

- Developing the Transportation Consortium with our co-terminus Board."

Submitted by the Upper Canada District School Board.
http://www.emckemptville.ca/20110630/news/Balanced+budget+approved+by+Upper+Canada+District+School+Board