In preparation for the 2022-2023 Budget, the Halton District School Board (the Board) invites parents/guardians, students, staff and community members to provide input into the budget development process.
The budget development process aligns the allocation of resources to the Board’s strategic priorities and operating goals identified in the annual operating plan. The 2020-2024
Multi Year Plan lists the Board’s key strategic commitments:
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Equity & Inclusion
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champion supportive and inclusive practices to ensure equitable access to positive opportunities and outcomes for all
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Mental Health & Well-Being - strengthen safe and caring environments that promote well-being
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Learning & Achievement - create learning conditions to elevate student achievement
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Environmental Leadership - take action for a sustainable world
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Indigenous Perspectives & Awareness - promote knowledge and understanding of Indigenous perspectives and realities
Adaptability, Relationships, Innovation, Communication, Accountability and Engagement are foundational elements of the plan which describe both our values as an organization and how staff and stakeholders will work together to achieve the goals outlined in the plan. The
Annual Operating Plan provides further details regarding the actions that support these five priority areas.
Over the past two years, the education sector has been presented with unprecedented challenges and funding pressures. HDSB currently offers two learning models: in-person learning and virtual learning for both elementary and secondary students. The current anticipated deficit for the year is $11.0 million, as the Board has invested significant resources in additional staffing to support learning, early intervention, mental health and special education. Additional resources have been dedicated to address cleaning, transportation, technology and ventilation. In addition to dedicating Board reserves, the provincial and federal governments also provided HDSB with $13.4 million in additional one-time operating funding and $19.4 million in capital funding for projects that improve ventilation, outdoor learning, building automation, and internet access in schools and portables. This year, the focus has been on supporting learning renewal, supporting mental health and well being of both students and staff, and creating a safe and healthy environment through additional cleaning and sanitation, increased ventilation, and use of personal protective equipment. In addition, Student Support Funds and Education Worker Protection Funds tied to the collective agreements, totalling $6.9 million, covered staffing supports across all employee groups.
The Grants for Student Needs (GSN) announcement on February 17, 2022 outlined continued timed investments to support similar areas of COVID priorities, learning recovery, mental health and special education and an extension of the Student Support Funds for one more year.
The Halton District School Board receives most of its funding from the province in the form of Grants for Student Needs. Details about education funding can be accessed on the
Ministry of Education website. Most of the funding school boards receive is tied to mandated class sizes and staffing ratios while other areas of the funding are “enveloped” and thus are restrictive in how they are used. The Board’s breakdown of costs include 80% staffing costs (mostly mandated) and 20% for other operational costs, schools and grounds maintenance and supplies. Additionally, the market dictates operating costs for classroom resources, technology, utilities, transportation services, construction, operation and maintenance of schools. As a result, it is likely that the Board will have to commit further reserves in order to address priorities identified in the Multi-Year and Operating plans.
The 2022-2023 budget process and timelines are summarized below, and details will be added to the
website
as information becomes available:
View a
breakdown of the current year Enrolment, Revenues and Expenses, which will form the basis for the 2022-2023 budget process. Further details on the prior year’s budget or financial statements can be found on the
Budget and Financial Information webpage.2022-2023 Budget Consultation Survey
Please take a few minutes to share your ideas for the 2022-2023 budget by completing a short anonymous survey.
The survey will be open until
March 7, 2022 at 4 p.m.
Complete the 2022-2023 Budget Consultation Survey