News - 2001-2002 budget

For immediate release
June 28, 2001

Board approves 2001-2002 budget

        Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board Trustees approved a budget of $133,699,000 for the school year 2001-2002. This represents a balanced budget and is the Board's fourth budget under the provincial funding formula for education.
        "Our students come first," says Audrey Carter, Chair of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. In spite of large funding shortfalls in the key areas of transportation, school secretarial support, principal / vice-principals, and school operations, the Board refused to reduce programs and services to students. To balance the budget, the Board considered these reductions but chose to work towards convincing the provincial government to reinstate special funding introduced in the 2000-2001 fiscal year to offset the impact of higher energy costs on school transportation and heating. Parents, staff and school councils have all told the Board that instructional programs and student safety must not be reduced to cover funding shortfalls over which the Board has little or no control.
        Setting the 2001-2002 budget proved challenging and complicated. This year the province continued to adjust the funding formula by making changes to "Remote and Rural" funding, altering the criteria for "New Pupil Places" and the introduction of a $100 per pupil "Local Priorities" fund.
        "While these changes are welcome," said Chair Carter, "they are more than offset by other factors." These include:

Reduced funding for school bus transportation and utility costs despite the fact these costs continue to reflect higher energy costs and absorb a greater proportion of the Board's budget.
Declining enrolment which results in less funding across all grant categories when not all expenditures can be reduced at the same rate.
Reduced purchasing power for goods and services particularly textbooks, computers and learning materials as funding has not kept pace with inflation leaving this Board $10 Million behind the annual funding levels provided to the two predecessor boards after accounting for inflationary and enrolment changes.

It was also recently announced that school boards must negotiate three year collective agreements with employee groups without knowing what future funding levels will be.
Carter went on to state that with the Government's push for more student testing, more accountability and school improvement programs, it is essential that funding in these areas be protected and enhanced.
Trustees have approved the development of a plan to lobby for changes to the funding model with the Minister of Education, MPP's and Ministry officials. The Board will also develop an action plan in the event they are not successful in convincing the province that changes to the Government's current funding model are essential for maintaining programs and services for students.

For information contact:
Audrey Carter, Chair, Hastings Prince Edward District School Board, 969-8208

Reference:
Dave Rutherford, Superintendent of Finance, 966-1170, ext. 2280

Chair's remarks to the Board