School District 57 approved a balanced budget Tuesday night for the 2017-18 school year.
Trustees unanimously approved the budget, which totals more than $158 million.
According to board chair Tim Bennett, student focus was front and centre when considering the budget.
"This is an exciting budget," Bennett said.
"It is the first time in a number of years that the operating fund is balanced.
"The expanded committee heard that the major budget challenge for 2017-2018 is compliance with the language restored to the teachers' collective agreement by the Supreme Court of Canada in November 2016."
The largest expense for the school district was $112.7 million in salaries and benefits for all district employees, including $51.3 million in teachers' wages.
Even with an uncertain provincial political future, the district still remains confident about current plans including the construction of a new high school in the Hart.
"We are committed to Kelly Road. This has been a lot of work for a lot of years. We need a new school and have no reason to believe otherwise," Bennett said.
"The 2017-18 Annual Budget Bylaw provides for all existing programs and services to be maintained, provides the staffing and resources to reopen Springwood elementary school and ensures compliance with the restored language."
