The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has approved its 2019/2020 budget.
It contains $92.6-million in spending but leaves the public board with a deficit of $602,000.
The board is getting about $1.1-million less than last year from the province.
Superintendent of Business Richard Findlay says “we cut 25% of department budgets board wide and that accounted for millions in savings which we then threw back into front-line school jobs. Teachers, education assistants, things like that.”
Findlay adds “There were some job losses in certain areas. On the other hand, the teachers that were surplused, most of them will come back doing long-term occasional placements or permanent placements.”
He notes “There is the odd school with less staff, such as Ignace for an example. They have got 37 students in High School. Last year they were staffed at six teachers, now they are down to three. That’s probably one area that had the most significant decline.”
Overall, the board is projecting just over 4,700 students, a decrease of about 2 students from the year before.
The elementary student population is increasing a total of 95 students, but at the secondary level, the decrease is around 98 students.
Findlay says Dryden High School will see the biggest decrease, approximately 55 students, while New Prospect in Dryden will lose 21 students
