SUDBURY – The Rainbow District School Board (RDSB) approved a balanced budget of $203.1 million for the 2019-2020 school year at its regular meeting on July 2.
The Recorder has learned that as part of the budget, the board has budgeted for 14.3 fewer teachers in its system based on expected enrolment and loss of funding from the province. However, if enrolment projections increase, it will mean the board will hire more teachers.
“This budget ensures the continuity of programs and services within the funding provided by the province of Ontario,” said RDSB chair Doreen Dewar in a release.
“With final Ministry of Education approval of our school consolidation plans in the New Sudbury and Valley North planning areas, Rainbow District School Board will be well-positioned to align expenditures with revenues going forward,” added Ms. Dewar.
RDSB is projecting an enrolment of 12,900 students this fall. Enrolment projections consider historic retention rates, the flow-through of each grade and information on population growth or decline.
A total of 75 percent of the budget, or $152 million, has been allocated to salaries and benefits in keeping with negotiated agreements.
Once again, the RDSB has successfully balanced the need for innovative programs within the allocated revenue while focusing on all aspects of student success.
RDSB operates 32 elementary school buildings and nine secondary school buildings in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island.
The board also offers other programs—Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program, Cecil Facer School, N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, Children’s Treatment Centre, O’Connor Park, applied behavioural analysis program, Restart, Simulated Healthy Dependent Living Opportunities (SHILO) program, attendance centre, Mishko-Ode-Wendam, Northern Support Initiative, Frank Flowers School and Barrydowne College operating at Cambrian College.
