August 13, 2020_This update provides a summary of the public special meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Thursday, August 13, 2020 through a livestream event (the recorded version will be available within 24 hours). It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in September 2020.
Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board opened the meeting acknowledging the First Peoples of the territory This afternoon we acknowledge that the land on which we are gathered is on the Traditional and Treaty areas of the Mohawk, Haudenosaunee and Anishnabek peoples. We conduct our business, recognizing we are all Treaty people and give respect to this territory and all its young people.
Recommendation
2020-2021 Budget final approval
Board members approved the 2020-2021 operating and capital expense budgets in the amounts of $210,669,029 and $27,400,536 respectively.
Recently, HPEDSB successfully completed a Multi- Year Financial Recovery Plan (2016-2017 to 2018-2019) which rebuilt the accumulated surplus (financial reserves). The 2020-2021 budget was developed based upon projected enrolment, funding, and expenses. The budget is generally a status-quo budget that is balanced and reflects the improved financial situation of HPEDSB as a result of the Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan. The budget includes planned salary increases, as well as some new initiatives based on department requests and needs. The budget that is proposed contains a small in-year surplus for compliance purposes of $71,960, which is compliant with Ministry of Education direction and the Education Act.
The budget was built around the following assumptions:
- long-term enrolment projections supplemented by detailed school projections;
- funding calculated by the Ministry's Electronic Financial Information System (EFIS) forms;
- GSN and PPF funding as announced by the Ministry of Education on June 19, 2020;
- recent central and local labour agreements which include salary increases and specific funding allocations;
- number of central and department staff remain similar to 2019-2020;
- department and school budgets remain generally the same as 2019-2020;
- employee absences, vacation use, and teacher unpaid days remain at the same rate as 2018-2019;
- some new initiatives and cost adjustments that support student achievement, improve board operation, or reflect cost increases; and
- there is no explicit provision for a contingency amount.
CONTACT
Kerry Donnell, Communications &Public Relations Manager, extension 62354, [email protected]