A warm winter means more teachers and special education assistants in the classroom as School District 43 was able to pump money saved from snow clearing and heating costs back into schools.
SD43 secretary treasurer Mark Ferrari confirmed that savings from the last few months, including a snow-free winter, have meant more cash can be spent on class size and composition issues in the district's 67 schools.
No dollar amount will be provided until the district's third quarter financial report is complete, likely at the end of March, when threats of snow and a cold snap have evaporated into spring, but in previous reports, the district had stated the budget was $120,000 just for snow clearing.
The news comes after the board approved a budget consultation process for the 2015/'16 school year that will see a budget presentation on April 7, followed by delegations on April 14, a Twitter chat on April 16 and a final budget presentation and approval on April 21.
Board chair Judy Shirra told The Tri-City News on Wednesday she expects a "status quo" budget for the next school year and no layoffs, which will be a relief after last year's $13.8-million staff blood-letting.
NO LAYOFFS
"There should be absolutely no layoffs unless something drastically changes in Victoria," Shirra said, acknowledging the pain felt by teachers, support workers, students and families after budget cuts last year.
Shirra, a Port Coquitlam trustee, said she expects to hear from families that were affected by budget cuts at the meetings for next school year's budget, as well as from teachers, district support staff and other stakeholders.
But she's confident the district is in a better place financially than it was last year and said the budget process should confirm that.
For example, in addition to putting money saved this winter back into the classroom, the district is benefitting from a key financial decision made last year when it decided not to spend a projected $2.3-million enrolment "holdback" (money the province keeps until enrolment is confirmed), until the following year.
This means the district has $2.3 million to spend, with a third going to pay down its $10.3-million debt incurred in previous years (for a total of $3.3 million this year) and the remaining two thirds being added to next year's budget.
As well, the sale of eight lots that are part of Parkland elementary school grounds for about $2.4 million will pay down debt incurred by internet upgrades at schools and other local capital projects, and international education revenues were $2.1 million higher than expected, with funds going towards a surplus for the year or other initiatives in 2014/'15.
Many of these details were part of the district's amended annual budget bylaw, which was passed Tuesday. School District 43 also issued a press release on its finances Wednesday.
