The Wellington Catholic District School Board has approved a “balanced” budget for 2014-15.
The $97-million budget, approved at the board’s June 2 meeting, represents a 0.5 per cent hike over last year’s $96.6-million budget and comes despite a forecasted decline in student enrolment.
Director of education Don Drone said despite the expected decline in enrolment, the board expects to see budget numbers increase over the next five years.
“There are no surprises on declining enrolment,” he told the Advertiser. “It’s a provincial trend.”
At the elementary level the board is forecasting the loss of about 193 full-time students, but will see an addition of students coming into full-day kindergarten spaces, which the board anticipates will cost $5.5 million this year and is included in the budget.
Drone said the board will be offering full-day kindergarten at 17 locations this year as part of a five-year plan for its implementation. The construction of a new Catholic school in Rockwood will bring that number to 18, Drone said.
At the high school level, enrolment is stable.
The budget is up slightly to cover collective agreements, maintenance costs, and a new teacher resource to deal with mental health issues. Drone said the mental health worker is expected to deal with students with mental health issues.
“Her role is more preventative,” Drone said of the new position.
The board had an operating deficit about three years ago that has been eliminated under a two-year plan of deficit elimination.
Drone said the recovery was conducted by the board designating money to surplus reserves.
The fund stood at $4.2 million last year and with $500,000 put toward balancing the budget it now stands at $3.7 million.
Board superintendent of corporate services and treasurer Tracy McLennan said the board is predicting high school enrolment at 2,470, with 5,332 at the elementary level (with the projected loss of the 193 students) and full-day kindergarten at 873 students.
