Officials at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board say budget cuts will affect every department of their organization – but won’t be felt in the classroom.
The school board began their 2013-14 budget deliberations staring down a $6.6-million deficit caused largely by a 364-student decline in enrolment.
“Ten thousand dollars per student is about the number, so when you talk about that almost 400 students … before we even start, we’re already behind $4 million,” says board CFO Shesh Maharaj.
Among the items cut as a result are French immersion programs and the planned purchase of new computers.
The budget for school supplies was also cut, to the tune of $800,000.
“It wasn’t easy,” says Maharaj.
“We looked at things that wouldn’t impact the classroom and we looked at things we could just defer.”
Board chair Wayne Buchholtz says he’s never happy to see budget cuts, but he is glad they were able to stop short of affecting students’ lives.
“It’s my understanding there will be no layoffs in the classroom setting, which is a phenomenal situation from my point of view,” he tells CTV.
What has Buchholtz less excited is the board’s long-term financial outlook and a “lean attitude” toward education spending he sees coming from Queen’s Park.
“We’ll end up having to cut into bone at some point in time and we’ll be in major trouble,” he says.
The budget still has to receive approval from WCDSB trustees, who will vote on it later this month.
