York Region District School Board passes $1.6B budget

Budget includes $1.6M to hire permanent staff, including social workers, therapists, speech-language pathologists for students requiring special education supports

Newmarkettoday.ca
June 27, 2023

York Region District School Board has approved its 2023-24 operating budget of $1.6 billion, with a projected deficit of $12.9 million.

The budget prioritizes supports for student achievement and well-being, according to a YRDSB news release, as well as reflects feedback from public survey results and advisory committees, such as early literacy and special education supports, destreaming and mental health.

The projected deficit of $12.9 million, which is a reduction compared to the previous year’s budget, requires "a moderate use of reserves" to comply with Ministry of Education requirements for balanced operating budgets, according to the board.

“The budget reflects an alignment with our priorities as a school board, the feedback we heard from our school community and our commitment to offer high-quality education,” board chair Ron Lynn said.

Highlights of the budget include:

• $1.6 million to hire permanent staff, including social workers, psychological and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to address the diverse needs of students requiring special education supports.
• Using carried-over revenue from the previous year to continue supporting Indigenous education programs.
• Allocations to support empower and primary literacy teachers to assist students with early literacy, and destreaming coaches to support the transition of elementary school students into secondary school and provide assistance to secondary school students in destreamed classes, including mathematics.
• Allocation of 33 special education resource teachers to assist students with special education needs in their transition to fully integrated classrooms.
• $600,000 toward staffing and resources to support multiple-language learners.

 

“The 2023-2024 budget includes important investments in programs and services designed to meet the diverse needs of our learners,” said associate director and chief financial officer Vidyia Maharaj. “Our budget process reflects our commitment as an organization to model ethical leadership, listen to the voices in our community and be transparent and fiscally responsible.”