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17| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,June 28,2018 theifp.ca The Halton District School Board has approved its operating and capital budgets for the 2018-2019 school year. The more than $763 million operating budget will include items such as class- room instruction, school transportation and pupil accommodation. The capital budget, which includes new schools, additions and improvements has been approved for $88.7 million. Highlights of the budget include a host of resource enhancements (including an expansion of the Students with Learning Disabilities Project), $599 million for in- struction costs, a total special education compliance revenue of nearly $95.9 million (and $20.8 million of expenditures in ex- cess of revenue), $17.2 million in transpor- tation expenses, and a textbook and sup- plies total upwards of $18.4 million. While this is a balanced budget for the Halton District School Board, it is not without its areas of contention. Earlier this month, the board an- nounced it is currently the lowest funded English public school board in Ontario, with a per-pupil average more than $1,300 lower than the provincial average ($10,972 compared to $12,299 provincially) - an as- pect the Fair Funding Action Committee has been working raise awareness. It was also announced at a June 20 trust- ee board meeting that the board's renewal of the Education Development Charges by- law has been blocked until the new provin- cial government can be sworn in. The decision could potentially mean millions of dollars lost for HDSB. However, superintendent Lucy Veer- man assured the board that the news would not impede the budget from pass- ing. "Any land that was purchased prior to the EDC bylaw expiry is a valid purchase and can be funded through the EDC. Prior to any subsequent purchase of land, a mo- tion comes forward to the board of trust- ees, so, if and when we are in that position, we would bring the information forward," Veerman said. "At this point I believe we still need to go as planned." The new budget allots $3.7 million in EDC funding to new land. In conjunction with the passing of the budget, the board of trustees has also passed its Long-Term Accommodation Plan, Operational Plan and Special Educa- tion Plan for the upcoming school year. EDUCATION Halton District School Board approves budget for upcoming school year Halton District School Board's J.W. Singleton Education Centre Graham Paine/METROLAND VERONICA APPIA vappia@metroland.com AUTHORIZED BY THE CFO FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO RE-ELECT TED ARNOTTTHE CFO FOR THE CAMP THANK YOU F O R Y O U R S U P P O R T TED ARNOTT W E L L I N G T O N H A LT O N H I L L S MPP Long Weekend!Long Weekend! thisCanada Day June30&July 1 Like us on • www.unitedlumber.ca 333 Guelph St. Georgetown 12833 Hwy 50 S. Bolton 520 Bayfield St. N., Barrie 50¢ from each fill will be donated to the Special Olympics 20lb BBQ Fill Like us on • Closed Mon July2n d Canada Day ProPaneSale Upper Credit Humane Society Thrift Shop - June auction The Upper Credit Humane Society June 2018 auction will take place on Saturday, June 30, 2018 with live bidding beginning at 4:30 p.m. Book bidding is available in advance at the Thrift Shop at 68 Main St. North in Georgetown, ON. Telephone bids are not accepted Elvis Collection Thrift Shop - 68 Main St. N., Georgetown (Moore Park Plaza) thriftshop@uppercredit.com | 905.702.8661 | uppercredit.com Charitable Registration #893738872RR0001 UPPER CREDIT HUMANE SOCIETY Featured items include: An Elvis collection, A.J. Bray print, Snoopy collection,Tonka tractor and a baseball collection Join Us for a Festival of Broadway's Greatest Songs www.globeproductions.ca 3 PERFORMANCES ONly Friday, July 6, 2018 @ 8:00pm Saturday, July 7, 2018 @ 8:00pm Sunday, July 8, 2018 @ 2:00pm thE Old ARMOURy 1A Park Avenue, Georgetown GENERAl AdMiSSiON no advance sales - cash at the door as a benefit, admission is Pay what you can (If you are able, please donate generously)