Rainbow District School Board Approves 2010-2011 Budget

Rainbow District School Board approved a budget of approximately $172 million for the 2010-2011 school year at the regular Board meeting on Monday, June 21, 2010.

Like most school boards in Ontario, Rainbow District School Board continues to experience declining enrolment. Enrolment in 2010-2011 is projected to reach 14,877 students, a loss of 251. Enrolment in Rainbow Schools has declined by 1,800 students since 2002-2003 due to the decrease in school age children in the community.

“Declining enrolment means less revenue and this continues to have a significant impact on the bottom line,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “This year, we will withdraw $4 million from our reserves to balance the budget, with no reduction in the level of service.” He added: “This is not a sustainable budget. We will have to reduce expenditures in 2011-2012.”

The 2010-2011 budget provides the financial framework for Rainbow District School Board to achieve its priorities – ensure success for all students, ensure efficient business management, and promote succession planning and talent development.

Provincial funding for 2010-2011 has increased by 1.3 per cent. The Province has allocated funding for the introduction of the new Early Learning Program in six Rainbow Schools and the ongoing implementation of retrofits to achieve energy savings.
 
Provincial support declined in a number of areas. Rainbow District School Board will lose $187,000 overall to operate its schools in 2010-2011 and another $286,000 in 2011-2012. In addition, the school renewal grant has dropped to $2.9 million, which means the Board will have less money to repair its aging infrastructure. “We need to continue to maximize our resources to ensure we provide the best education possible for students in quality school facilities,” said Chair Campbell.

The 2010-2011 budget includes the introduction of full day every day Junior Kindergarten in all Rainbow Schools. The Board also approved funding to expand the communication system for parents in elementary schools, renew some computers for teachers, and upgrade the wireless network in secondary schools.

A total of 78 per cent of the budget or $133 million has been allocated to salaries and benefits. Eight per cent of the budget will go towards supplies and services, eight per cent to fees and contracts, and two per cent to capital and replacement projects in the 2010-2011 school year.

Rainbow District School Board provides quality programs and character development to students in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island in 38 elementary and 9 secondary schools.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.