RAINY RIVER - At the beginning of each year, the school boards work tirelessly to put together their annual budget. And after countless hours of strategic planning, budget reports go through rigorous drafts before being presented to the school board committee.
For the budget, the school board takes into account the projected student enrollment for the next year and then assesses each current program the school offers, taking into account student achievements within those programs and student positive and negative reactions.
Input on the 2022-2023 budget was sought from school councils, union partners, board advisory committees, and Student Senate representatives and reflects the input received.
It is also important to note that this year’s budget comes after a worldwide pandemic which pushed schools across the province into an unprecedented fiscal place with the addition of funding for new technology that enabled students to learn remotely.
Additionally, certain extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs weren’t able to perform normally during the pandemic: therefore, spending on running these types of programs was a contributing factor to the balanced budget.
During budget consultations, it was found that the 2021-2022 budget contained increased support for mental health professional services in the schools, as well as increased support for Autism Support Workers and Behavioral Therapists for all elementary schools.
Spending on the programs will continue into the next school year.
Also, support for Bullying Prevention and Intervention is factored into the budget. This program has a dedicated funding budget through the province along with continued funding for the work of our Equity Committee to create culturally responsive, identity-affirming learning environments.
As well, next year’s budget will focus on building capacity in literacy instruction and interventions, with funding allocated for professional development through the reintroduction of the Student Achievement Teachers grant, as well as the continued support of the Reading Recovery Program and increased funding for the Speech-Language Program.
Additionally, the budget will support the Ojibwe Language Strategy. Anishinaabemodaa and expansion of Ojibwe language courses are included, as well as funding to support our continued work to embed First Nation, Métis and Inuit history, culture and perspectives across the curriculum.
Also confirmed within this budget is increased support for field trips and secondary athletic excursions in light of rising fuel costs, an investment in school nutrition funding, support for ongoing training and professional development for school staff, and for the Techways program, a program that provides Grade 7 and 8 students with hands on, experiential learning, with an emphasis on the skilled trades.
