The school district budget was given the green light for the present year.
No significant debate among trustees or the public held up its ratification process at Tuesday night's board of education meeting. The budget sailed through all three required readings in the single sitting.
The result was a balanced budget totalling $172.7 million that maintained last year's ongoing programs and had enough left over to add some new learning supports.
The budget design was conducted by a committee made up of trustees, district administration staff and relevant stakeholder representatives. It was chaired by longtime trustee Sharel Warrington.
The committee compiled financial data and heard multiple submissions advising on anticipated expenditures and revenues, then cross-referenced those with the district's rolling five-year strategic plan.
"Committee members suggested 19 possibilities to provide additional resources in support of student learning. A number of those opportunities have been reflected in the 2019-2020 Annual Budget Bylaw," said a written statement from the school district.
"While the budget provides a sustainable level of service to students, there were funds available to provide additional sustainable resources in support of student learning, with an emphasis on mental health literacy," said board chair Tim Bennett.
"Through use of surplus, the board supported the inclusion of a pilot project aimed specifically at capacity building in schools - providing the appropriate tools to school staff to deal with the daily challenges they face - with a focus on strategies for mental health literacy and learning," Bennett said.
"Additionally, the board has supported the inclusion in the 2019-2020 budget of a use of surplus for a WiFi refresh project which will see improvements in technology infrastructure across the district."
The list of new learning supports provided in this year's school district budget includes:
District-led mental health literacy rollout to assist with prevention, early recognition, intervention and reduction of stigma associated with mental illness.
Support for two additional teaching vice principals to provide school-based leadership and support of student learning in rural communities.
Support for an education assistant mentorship program in the district to ensure staff are appropriately trained and students are receiving the supports they need.
An increase of aboriginal education workers for each elementary and secondary school.
An increase of two aboriginal education social workers.
Addition of two Aboriginal vice principals, one to support Aboriginal language and culture and one to support academic achievement.
Additional support to the facilities services purchasing department.
A multi-year commitment to support the implementation of a student services-led mental health project that focusses on responses to intervention and positive behaviour support interventions in school and classroom environments, a project aimed specifically at capacity building in schools to focus on strategies for mental health literacy and learning.
A district-wide WiFi refresh project which will improve the technology infrastructure across the district.
Continued support for the multi-year acquisition of modular units to replace the aging modular infrastructure in the district.
Support for ongoing capital projects identified in schools to enhance the learning environment for students.
Continued support of projects to conserve energy by monitoring and reducing energy consumption.
