Niagara school board adds another $24 million to 2022-23 budget

More students means more teachers means higher budget.

That, in a nutshell, is what happened when the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) trustees released their 2022-23 budget yesterday (July 12).

Facing an increased enrolment of 2.57 per cent – or roughly 1,000 – students, the DSBN tacked another $24 million onto the total bringing the 2022-23 budget up to $546.6 million.

The DSBN now calculates there will see more than 40,000 students for the first time ever and has hired an additional 130 staff, including educational assistants, early childhood educators, 70 teachers, and 23 special education staff, to offset the climb in enrolment.

“Balancing the needs of the future while recognizing that we are still gradually moving out of the pandemic was key in developing this budget,” said Kevin Maves, Chair of the Finance Committee and Trustee for Niagara Falls. “

This is why this budget focuses on proper staffing, expanding academic programming and supports, as well as strategies to support individual learning needs of DSBN students.”

The board says the highlights of the 2022-23 include:

• Providing support to students by hiring 70 educators, and adding 23 staff to the special education and mental health and well-being teams
• Investing approximately $2 million in system-wide Mental Health and Well-Being supports
• Investing over $1.7 million to enhance Indigenous Education
• Allocating $68 million to effectively support Special Education
• Allocating over $5.6 million for COVID-19 learning recovery
• An additional $528,000 towards one-to-one elementary tutoring
• An additional $168,000 to enhance summer learning programs

“Our goal is always to do what is best for students. And with this budget, we are doing just that by prioritizing key programs and supports, such as mental health and well-being, Indigenous education, and, with rising enrolment, adding a significant number of staff to ensure that students are supported with their learning and growth, and are set up to succeed,” said Warren Hoshizaki, Director of Education.

“We are looking towards next year optimistically, and we are already prepared to welcome students, families, and staff back in September for what promises to be an excellent school year ahead.”

A large chunk of the DSBN’s increased operating needs will come from $62.6 million in accumulated surplus reserves.