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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 25, 2003 - A3 Public school board approves $310-M budget By Tim Whitnell S PE C IA L T O T H E BEAVER There was no hand-wring ing as in previous years as the Halton District School Board passed a balanced budget for the 2003-04 school year. An hour of public dfscussion last Wednesday, with sev eral points of clarification, was sufficient enough for the 11 trustees to unanimously endorse $310.5 million in total revenues for operating and cap ital purposes. The total represents a three per cent boost overall in rev enues compared to the 2002-03 budget. Grants from the Ontario government were increased by about six per cent from last year. Employee salaries and ben efits make up the bulk of costs associated with the budget as they represent 80.1 per cent of total board expenditures. That's comprised of 57.6 per cent in teacher costs and 22.5 per cent in non-teacher costs. The recommendations adopted by the Ministry of Education based on the Rozanski report are being her alded as a primary reason for the improved fiscal outlook in Halton. "The Halton board's rev enue position significantly improved over the initial budg et set in June 2002. This can be attributed to the Education Equality Task Force's report on education funding," superin tendent Carla Kisko stated in the board's budget document. "Immediately following the release of the Rozanski report," Kisko wrote, "the government provided school boards with significant in-year funding for 2002-03 in three key areas: a three per cent wage adjustment was provided for negotiations, special education funding was increased by $200 million and the $20 million transportation grant increase." Kisko noted Halton got $14.3 million in funding adjust ments for the current year, which gave the board some flexibility in its contract negoti ations with employee groups and added resources to special education classrooms. "These funding enhance ments have increased the board's budget by a further $8.8 million and have made the 2003-04 budget process easier than that experienced in the last few years, refocussing the attention on funding education improvement plans rather than cost cutting," stated Kisko. However, at the end of the board meeting, education direc tor Dusty Papke said, "Easy is a relative term. The budget was not easy." The largest single funding increase has been to special education, which received $9 million more for next year. It will result in more classroom teachers, educational assistants and funding for more profes sional support staff like psy chologists, speech and lan guage workers, child and youth counsellors and social workers. "In special education we have about a $2 million reserve. It's a block amount that must be spent on special education," Kisko said at the last board meeting. Papke added the excess spe cial education money cannot be used for other purposes like employee contract bargaining, it has to be spent on the former. "We'll roll it over and spend it next year," he said. Other significant changes to the `03-04 budget include $2.9 million for day-today mainte nance, a $200,000 increase over the current year. Also, there is an added $500,000 to allow the board to expand its list of cyclical repair projects. The transportation budget received an extra $500,000 to support special education and the implementation of school bus safety programs. Kisko noted that staff pro fessional development funding has increased by $200,000. Several areas that have come under cost-cutting meas ures across the province in recent years also received some added money. The arts, science and athletics will get additional funding for school-based equipment. POTTER MADNESS: M eghan Young (top right) was the first to buy the lat est H arry P o tter book during Pick of the C ro p 's special m idnight sale of the long-awaited opus. Alex Nixon (left) and Connell D epatie (right) w ere am ong those who lined up around the block early to get th eir hands on the new novel. M agicians and w izards worked the crow d o u t side and once in the store, everyone counted down the last m inute until the book went on sale. 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Between June 13 and 16, the outgoing mailboxes of 16 supermailboxes in various locations in north Oakville were pried open, and the mail taken. Individual mailboxes were not disturbed. Police and Canada Post are looking into these incidents, however, they are not able to determine how much, if any. mail was taken from these boxes. Halton Regional Police are suggesting that if mail contain ing cheques had been mailed out during that three day period, residents should confirm with the recipient that the cheques have been received. The mailboxes were located at 1279 H edgestone; Nottinghill Gate and Oakery Woods; Nottinghill Gate and Springbook; 1040(2 boxes), 1144. 1141 and 1151 Lindsay Dr; 531 Ridgewood Crt; 1301 and 1380 Outlook Terrace; 1243 Carriage Way; 1177 Old Carriage Way; Nottinghill Parkette; 1224 Leawood Drive; 1296 Cottonwood Cres. Police have had other incidents o f thefts from rural mail boxes in the Milton area of Halton Region over the past num ber o f months, and in these cases the cheques have been removed from mailboxes and fraudulently cashed. -30- Save 60% Now $499 Chairside Curio Reg. from $1,269 Save 40% Now $1,739 Dining Table, 4 Side Chairs Reg. from $2,969 Save 70% Now$489 Square Lamp Table' Reg. from $467 Save 50% Now $1269 Bergere, Lavender Reg. from $2,397 Save 60% Now $499 Floral Sofa Reg. from $3,367 Save 40% Now $1,779 Comer Entertainment Unit Reg. from $3,077 Save 40% Now $279 Matching Cocktail Table Reg. from $557 Save 40% Now $1,438 Chair & Ottoman Reg. from $2,488 Save 46% Now $1,799 Dining Table, Arm Chair S Side Chair, Sideboard Reg. from $6,462 Save 40% Now $1,849 Hickory Chair Bedroom Planters Bed, Night Table, Chest Reg. $17,557 Save 40% Now $339 SAVE OVER 52% Sale ends June 29/03 Save 45% Now $1,368 Save 55% Now $2,879 `Hickory Chair' Bookcase, White Reg. from $16,677 ENNISCLARE INTERIORS 1075 N O R T HS E R V IC ER D .W E S T ,O A K V ILLE . 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