LD School Board Approves $258M Budget

Published on: 2010/06/23 - in News

At a board meeting last week, Trustees of the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) approved an $235,556,000 operating budget and a capital budget of $22,577,000 for the 2010-2011 school year.

Initially the Trustees were presented with an estimated operating expenditure deficit of $1,400,000 – as a result of a large reduction in revenues, due to significant declines in student enrolment for that school year – however that deficit was reduced to $990,000 by making expenditure reductions in some budget areas that included utilities and employee replacement costs.

However the Trustees subsequently decided to use funds from the accumulated surplus account to cover that deficit.

Some features of the 2010-2011 school year budget include funding for the new Early Learning Program – with 14 new Early Childhood Educators hired for 8 schools in September – direct support for student achievement through initiatives in the areas of literacy and numeracy, and specific areas such as aboriginal education.

The Board’s capital budget will include the initial phase of construction for two new elementary schools in Kingston East and Greater Napanee, scheduled to open in September of 2012.

In a press release, Chair of the Budget Committee George Beavis is quoted as saying, “Over the next few years Limestone, like other school boards experiencing declining enrolment, must really examine how we can make long term reductions to operating costs.”

“The Board has enough funds in accumulated reserves to cover the deficit, but we will have to thoroughly examine our cost structures over the next year.”

The Limestone District School Board serves students in the counties of Frontenac and Lennox and Addington. Approximately 21,000 students attend 55 elementary and 11 secondary schools, as well as Limestone Community Education sites across the district.

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