The St. Clair Catholic District School Board has tightened its purse strings to come up with a balanced budget for the next school year.
The plan will now be sent to the Ministry of Education, and includes revenues totaling $108,582,378, while expenses came in at $107,259,274. The extra $1.3-million will be put aside for employee future benefits, as ordered by the province.
Speaking of the province, Director of Education Dan Parr says Ontario revenues have decreased, meaning less money coming from grants. "That caused us to have to take a bit of a harder approach and line with our decisions."
Parr says the pressure is on, considering the province's plan to begin implementing the reductions. Some will be phased into the grants over three years, but other cuts will be made right away. "We had to look at every dollar and every line, to be as economical as we possibly could. That's the approach we took," says Parr.
Parr adds technological progress is actually helping the board save money. Holding virtual meetings and using devices students already own are a couple of ways schools are finding efficiencies.