The Rainy River District School Board is poised to spend almost 56 and a half million dollars to run its schools during the 2021-22 school year.
That is about $2 million higher than budgeted for this school year.
Some increases in government funding and other revenue help make it a balanced budget. The budget includes increased support for student mental health and students with the highest needs with more mental health clinicians and Autism Support Workers.
There is also added support for student literacy and the implementation of the new Grade 9 math curriculum.
There is continued focus on Indigenous education with funding for an Indigenous Education Leader, an Indigenous Education Curriculum Coordinator, an Indigenous Graduation Coach, an Ojibwe Language Coordinator, and the fifth year of the Ojibwe Language Strategy, Anishinaabemodaa.
The budget does reflect a projected decline in student enrollment. The board projects an increase of at least ten more students in its high school. That increase is offset by a drop of about 22 students at the elementary level.
Superintendent of Business Laura Mills notes the decrease is reflected in their staffing requirements.
“Overall we have 425.56 staff which is only a reduction of 2.55 over last year. Three-hundred and seventy are in relation to instructional,” says Mills.
Mills says the budget also reflects a loss of four educational assistant positions, but the board is applying for new funding that would add those positions back.
Because the funding has yet to be approved, it can not yet be reflected in the budget.
