At the Board Meeting held on Tuesday June 19th, the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) approved a total budget for expenditures and revenue, including transfers to and from reserves, for the 2012 / 2013 school year in the amount of $140,848,462. This included a transfer from reserves of $714,767.
The decline in elementary and secondary enrolment has resulted in a reduction in Ministry funding and corresponds to a reduction in the teaching and support staff compliment. This has been reflected in this budget.
For 2012 / 2013, within the available funding, the budget includes the continuation of:
Professional learning communities for elementary and secondary schools
Elementary and Secondary computer ratios maintained in classrooms
Specialist High Skills Major courses
Maintain level of Program and Special Education Supports to schools
Continued expansion of Early Learning Kindergarten
Continue VOIP Implementation
Continue with 2 System Administrators
Also, due to prudent management of budgets in 2011 / 2012, the Board was able to implement some one time expenses before the end of this school year that will be enhancements to the 2012 / 2013 school year. Many of these one time expenses have a technology focus which is becoming increasingly important to students and staff. The one time expenses include the following:
Latest version of Microsoft Office on all instructional laptops
E-learning laptops for secondary schools
More Netbooks in elementary schools
Videoconferencing units
Upgrades to speed and security for our IT infrastructure
Playground upgrades to our backstops
In addition to the above new enhancements, the following additional enhancements are included in 2012 / 2013 through a combination of reallocations of existing budgets and new Ministry funding:
Professional development for Technology Plan Implementation
Professional development for Character and Kindergarten Oral Language
Enhanced Internet Bandwidth
School Effectiveness Framework, Board Improvement Plan Implementation and Character/Safe Schools staff support
Mental Health Lead Position
Support for transitioning Alexander Henry High School students
Capital Improvements – Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) and School Renewal and School Condition Improvements
Special education funding is now determined on a “per student” basis normally resulting in a decline to our Board’s special education grant. The Algoma District School Board is dedicated to meeting the needs of Special Education students and will continue to do so in the future. Currently the Board allocates $18.9 million to Special Education of which costs are $1.4 million above available funding.
Superintendent of Business, Joe Santa Maria said “We are very pleased to submit a balanced budget for 2012 / 2013. We are committed to ensuring our resources are allocated to meet our Board Improvement Plan objectives. It was a challenge to do so with our declining enrolment and we required the cooperation of all schools and departments.”
Susan Thayer, Chair of the Operations and Budget Committee, added, “Our objective is to always maintain or grow programs and services and minimize the impact of declining enrolment inside the classroom while being fiscally responsible. We appreciate the effort of all our Trustees and staff during this process.”
