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Catholic board challenged by decreasing enrolment

BY Maija Hoggett, Staff June 23, 2009 22:06

Educational assistants and a professional development program for teachers are facing cuts in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's budget for next school year.

Associate director of education (business and finance) Peter Derochie presented the 2009/2010 budget to the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board last Wednesday night.

Declining enrolment, students shifting between school boards and the economy are some of the pressures the board faced in trying to balance its $230-million budget. This year's budget is 2.56 per cent increase over the 2008-2009 budget.

For educational assistants (EAs) cuts mean the reduction of 15 fulltime equivalent positions. Derochie said this number can be achieved with no layoffs of any permanent staff if EAs are reallocated, and current temporary positions and leaves or vacancies aren't replaced.

"Special education is a priority for this board and in order to do it we have to take money from other areas," said Derochie.

In the past, Derochie said the board has made special education programs a priority. The gap between the funding that is allocated for the programming and what is actually spent has grown to $9 million.

"The staffing levels versus funding have been an ongoing and increasing fiscal pressure for our board and have been always supported to deliver the quality programs and services to meet our most needy students," according to a board report.

Courage to Serve is the professional development program facing cutbacks. It is a faith-based retreat that has been offered to staff in partnership with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. This year, the Toronto and Durham boards have made cuts to the program.

In the 2008-2009 budget the board spent $71,000 on the Courage to Serve program.

The current recession also has the school board in a unique place.

In the last two recessions Derochie said the school board was essentially isolated. Although other areas of the province were experiencing hardships, he said the Simcoe County area was still growing.

"This one's different...and it's hitting our communities," said Derochie.

To reduce the lingering effects of all current challenges the board is trying to be proactive in this year's budget. Derochie said the board hopes to smooth out the impact of the revenue decline

"We may as well start now because if we don't it will be hard to meet in the next couple of years," said Derochie.

The Catholic school board is planning to pass the budget at its board meeting this coming Wednesday (June 24).

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