The initial assessment suggests the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board will have to find $8-million in savings to balance its budget for 2016-17.
Executive Superintendent of Corporate Services Mario Iatonna says it could mean less money for individual school budgets, fewer computers, and compromise plans to expand the board's specialty programs. It could also mean less spending on special education.
While closing schools, already recommended in the board's accommodation review process, will save some money, Iatonna says it won't fix all the board's challenges.
"Unfortunately, we foresee declining enrollment even into the future, so we're going to have to continue looking at reductions moving forward," says Iatonna.
He says the assessment is just the first step. Individual departments will now go back and find savings and trustees will get a monthly update.
The board is accepting public input until the budget gets final approval, which is expected by the end of June.