Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board trustees sitting as the Budget Committee Monday night, reviewed ongoing budget planning for the 2025-2026 school year, including projected enrolment and areas of potential cost savings.
“This is a very challenging budget year, with a number of ongoing financial pressures we must continue to address. Throughout all our budget considerations, we balance support for the services and programs we believe are crucial for student success with our obligations to always be responsible and prudent financial managers,” says Paul Brown, chairperson, Budget Committee.
“As we work toward a balanced budget, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the dollars we have are directed to where they are needed most – our classrooms,” says Brown.
As part of its ongoing development of a balanced budget for consideration by the board, administration has been reviewing all areas of the budget to identify efficiencies and cost reductions, including within the categories of instruction, administration, transportation, and school operations.
Staff have indicated, through ongoing financial variance reporting, that the board is tracking towards a projected in-year deficit of $16.59M. Contributing factors to the deficit include funding gaps specifically in the areas of transportation, special education and Bill 124/collective agreement settlements.
The Ministry of Education allows school boards to have a maximum deficit of one percent of their operating revenue. For KPR, this amount for the 2024-2025 year would be approximately $4.78 M.
Administration indicated that a thorough review of the board’s transportation funding and expenditures has been ongoing, and that analyzing areas that have been over supported by the board in the past will also continue to be a focus, such as the special education program.
“As a senior administrative team, we have been thorough and focused in reviewing all areas of the budget since the fall to address our deficit financial position and identifying potential areas of cost savings,” says Rita Russo, Director of Education. “As we work toward finalizing a draft budget for consideration by the board, we continue to explore efficiencies in all areas. While we will focus, as always, on operations before staff, the reality is that the challenges we are facing will require significant changes moving forward, including staffing adjustments.”
Enrolment
Administration reviewed enrolment expectations for the 2025-2026 school year with the board’s Budget Committee.
Student enrolment directly impacts revenue. Projections for the 2025-2026 school year indicate that elementary enrolment is stabilizing, while secondary enrolment is decreasing.
Board grant revenues are determined provincially based on elementary and secondary student enrolment. Total board enrolment for 2025-2026 is expected to be 35,517 students. This projection includes a year-over-year projected increase of five additional elementary students, and a decrease of 250 secondary students.
The Budget Committee will continue its discussion of the proposed operating budget at its next meeting.
Budget Committee Meeting Dates
- Monday, May 26
- Wednesday, May 28
- Monday, June 2
Budget information is available at: www.kprschools.ca
