The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

16 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Halton public school board's $900K surplus already spent By Tim Whitnell SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The good news for the Halton District School Board is word of a $900,000 surplus in its current budget. The bad news -- if you can call it that -- is that trustees and principals looking to get a piece of the pie for their schools will be disappointed to learn most of the windfall has already been allotted to projects inside and outside the classroom. Steven Parfeniuk, the board's business superintendent, told trustees at a recent board meeting that a $900,000 surplus had been forecast as of March 31. "It seems like an incredible amount of money but it is in the context of a $385 million-budget, which represents one quarter of one per cent," noted Parfeniuk. "This morning it was $900,000, and then we met with Gerry's (Cullen, the facilities superintendent) staff, and we are about $200,000 overspent on moving portables." The extra revenue to account for a surplus comes from the Ministry of Education, which has allotted $1.95 million more in various grants to the board during the '06-07 school year. However, those increases have been offset in part by $600,000 in expenditures to support student achievement in 11 areas like an additional English as a Second Language teacher ($40,000) and Sunday Brunch 11am to 3pm The quaint dining rooms of the Glenerin Inn offer the perfect atmosphere to enjoy Brunch every Sunday. Our team offers a vibrant experience, exquisite food & personal service, delivered with a flair. A Wine Maker's Evening with Vineland Estates Winery Friday, May 25, 2007 7:00pm Pre-Dinner Wine Tasting & Hors d'oeuvres 8:00pm Dinner and Wine Appreciation a precision teaching conference ($30,000). Nearly $150,000 of the $600,000 in extra student support spending has been put aside for future projects. Other in-year expenditures to be accounted for include $350,000 to renovate and buy resource materials for an infrastructure improvement project at Pine Grove elementary school in Oakville. Then there's the $376,500 cost of the recent move of about 80 administrative staffers and their resources from the former Percy Merry school in Milton to the Gary Allan High School continuing and adult education facility in Burlington. Later in the recent board meeting Parfeniuk updated trustees on the process for the 2007-08 budget. Preliminary indications are that the board can expect $2.9 million more in special education grants to cover growth in pupil enrollment in that area. The board is also expecting approximately $675,000 more in a program enhancement grant. Although its use is at the board's discretion, the ministry suggests it be utilized to support the arts, phys.-ed., outdoor education and music programming. As well, modest funding increases are expected from the province for worker salaries and benefits plus an additional two per cent and one per cent for the cost of transportation fuel and utilities respectively. "Administration continues to work towards the development of a draft 2007-08 budget. It is expected that we will be able to present this document in late May or early June. Of importance at this point is to ensure we meet the primary class size guidelines and known inflationary cost increases," said Parfeniuk told the Post. Primary class size (PCS) targets have been mandated by the ministry with the Halton board saying it may be down to the wire to accommodate the provincial regulation in time for the 200708 school year. Every school board in Ontario must meet new PCS parameters. By September 2007, boards must ensure 90 per cent of their primary classes (JKGrade 3) have 20 students or less with the remaining 10 per cent of classes having no more than 23 students. PCS also applies to other grades. Junior and intermediate (Grades 4-8) must have an average of no more than 25 students per class. Education Director Wayne Joudrie has reminded trustees and his senior staff on several occasions that if they don't meet the mandated PCS class size ratio they will lose ministry funding for the teacher in that situation, but will still be required to offer that class and pay the teacher. The board will be hiring around 60 teaching staff to meet the PCS requirements, for which they will receive ministry funding; more than 130 extra classrooms will be needed. MENU Leek and Pear Soup Sauteed Mushrooms and Apples in a Yellow Zucchini Basket, Dijon Herb Dressing Pork Loin Stuffed with Apricots with Sweet Potato and Parsnip Mash, Tri-Colour Roasted Vegetables Warm Apple Tart with Maple Ice Cream All courses include carefully chosen wines by Vineland Estates Coming in May: $69.00 per person plus taxes and gratuities The opening of our new wine cellar The Glenerin Inn 1695 The Collegeway, Mississauga www.glenerininn.com 905-828-6103 "At last a worry free window and door installation with an Iron Clad guarantee*!!!" Spring Sale Your choice of · $150 off per window · Free lock with door (up to $460 value) · 6 months no interest, no payments. WIN $5000 Of Home Improvements See store for details 3325-B Mainway Dr, Burlington, Ontario "100% Moneyback Guarantee" - Windows - bays, bows, sliders etc.. - Doors - steel, wood, fibreglass, sliding, garden - Shutters - interior, exterior **Call now for a free no obligation in home consultation** (between Walkers & Guelph) www.westwindows.on.ca info@westwindows.on.ca easy payment plans available Glen Abbey United Church To place your business logo or name here, call your Classified Sales Representative today! (905) 335-3751 Showroom hours Monday-Friday 9-5pm Saturday 10-2pm 905.632.4440