HPEDSB Superintendent Nick Pfeiffer (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board approved their 2018/19 budget on Monday night.
They approved an operating budget of $201,522,739 and a capital budget of $17,808,487.
It’s the final year of the three year Financial Recovery Plan that was ordered to be put in place by the Ministry of Education back in 2016.
Nick Pfeiffer, Superintendent of Business Services explains why the financial recovery plan was put in place.
This recovery plan included permanent and non permanent savings measures that included consolidating and closing schools, reducing staff, reducing department and school budgets, deferring the replacement of technology and other measures.
These measures are to help the board reach a surplus of $4 million, or approximately 2% of their annual operating revenue.
A group of CUPE members were present at the meeting and voiced their displeasure in some of the cuts being made which could affect up to 25 jobs.
CUPE members were in attendance at the HPEDSB meeting to show let their feelings be known regarding staffing cuts in the 2018/19 budget. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Director of Education Mandy Savery-Whiteway spoke to the media after the meeting regarding the cuts.
She says the end is in sight.
The savings measures for the 2018/19 year total $8.7 million.
Pfeiffer says the majority of their funding comes from provincial grants based on the number of students enrolled.
He says there is forecasted to be a slight increase for elementary schools and a decrease for secondary enrollment, leading to a projected decreased overall of 21 students.
Trustee Dave Patterson said he has found this has not been an easy path to be on.
If this financial year ends on target, the school board will have $3,037,296 in surplus and if all goes well in 2018/19, they will end with $4,583,305.
