After months crunching the numbers, the School District No. 46 (SD46) board has approved its final budget for 2007/08.
At the Feb. 12 board meeting, trustees passed the budget in the amount of $37,030,720. According to board chair Silas White, of that amount, 73 per cent was the budget formula that was sent directly to schools. White said other district funds will support initiatives such as covering provincial cuts to student funding at secondary schools and for district literacy and numeracy support teachers, extra support for the Sunshine Coast Alternative School program, the fine arts in all schools, funding for the new framing and culinary arts trades programs, Special Education and curriculum initiatives, extra support to all schools to supplement school goals, Early Learning programs, support for community schools and Aboriginal Education. District funds also cover administration, transportation, district supplies, and school operations and maintenance, he said.
"Another important budget note is that although much is made provincially about an increase in education funding, one must realize that much of this 'increase' was to fund a new provincial contract for teachers," said White. "In other funding areas, many districts including us have in fact received less funding than we were led to expect this year. In response, our provincial association is requesting a renewed and firmer promise from the province of 'stabilized funding' for our schools."
With last year's budget process now complete, the board and district staff are starting consultation on the 2008/09 budget.
Over the next month, secretary treasurer Andrea deBucy and the board will be holding consultation meetings that will be open to the public. This is a result of a new policy the board recently passed to allow for community consultation and input into the budget before it is finalized. Look for the dates and times of these meetings to be announced soon.
