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IB NEWS FUNDING CHANGES EXPECTED TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT BOARD BUDGET KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com The Halton District School Board i: facing a "challenging year for budgeting as as it prepares its annual financial meth the recent release of the prov- ince's Grants for Student Needs (GSN) — the main source of funding for school boards — superintendent of bus: ness services Roxana Negoi gave trustees a preliminary glance at some numbers during the May 4 board meeting. GSNs are based, in large part, on stu- dent enrolment, and although the board is a growth board, the HDSB usually ranks. near the bottom or close to it rae the 72 Ontario boards for per-pupil fun Numbers still have to be crunched ‘and the board's financial position is yet to be determined, but Negoi expressed concern over the expected "decrease in funding and staffing levels across our system" for next year. 1 anumber of areas where the GSNs fall short, including funding for re- MOMENTUM Then and NOW In select “A further reduction i in funding is highly concerning.” — Roxana Negoi, HDSB superintendent of business services mote Jearning, keeping up with inflation, cial education supports ands supply staff costs, said Negoi in her report. Funding for remote learning results in a decrease in the total per Pupil funding for those students and "no funding to recognize the inestiiont ear ing levels that result in running two learning models.’ "There are significant concerns with the funding, or rather, lack of funding for remote learning. The thought is that these students do not require a physical space, and thus, a reduced per- pupil amo has been introduced in the 3." oe The reality is that a handful of remote | ote) aie) s your issue of Momentum — Mohawk College \/ Community WW ETer-v4lal= in your mailbox* Access the * online version by rer-Talal inten aalicmacre( 1 “imonHauwK COLLEGE learning students at one school will not , heating or gr ing costs for the building, said Negoi. COVID-19 Learning Recovery and Ti toring Supports funding is being discon. tinued by the province, replaced by Prior- ities and Partnership funds intended to focus on literacy, numeracy and des. reaming support: rd's transport tation allocation also ne oars to have been reduced. Over the past two years, student transporta- tion costs have exceeded the provincial al- location by close to $3 million, she said. further reduction in funding is highly concerning." The operating and capital budgets of the HDSB willbe impacted by the funding anges, new nouncements and discontinued funding, said Negoi. "While there is an overall increase in grants, once the changes are unpacked, the concern is that there will be less fund- ing to address the growing needs of our system." Oakville trustee Kelly Amos said she found the overview presented "very dis- tressing.’ . [know in the past we've been at the bottom and if we're at the bottom and we're getting decreased funding, that's re- ally going to hurt even more," said Amos. A budget presentation took place last night (May 10) at the board's committee- of-the-whole meeting. ATTRIDGE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED © Sup WE'RE HIRING FOR BUS DRIVERS IN HAMILTON AND HALTON SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! nt Your Income fessional Training SUPPLEMENT YOUR INCOME PROFESSIONAL TRAIN! A PLACE TO JOIN US FOR A TOUR AND LUNCH. Glen Abbey Inspired Retirement Living™ 1459 NOTTINGHILL GATE OAKVILLE €z0z ‘LL Aew ‘Aepsiny, | seaveg eq1ayeo | ¢ woo-uoyeyepIsu!