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Te Canadian Champion' Tuesday, MaY 6' 2003-15 Cutbacks flot necessary: school board officiai o o RB, TM iA1II 1~e scoop? If Special to The Champion ices is a possibîliîy for 2003-04, says Ibhe Halton District Sebool Boards cbief num- ber cruneber. Business superintendent CarIa Kisko said details of tbe general legislative grants recenîly released by tbe education minisn-y appear 10 be more positive for tbe board Ibis year, especially for special education, as adminisîrators gear up for tbeir annual budget deliberations. -We are in mucb better sbape, even witb (contract) negotiations t0 do, Iban we were a year ago. We dealt witb mucb less money last year.' Ms Kisko noted. inm preîîy confident we can setule il," wîîbout baving 10 resort Io slasbing servie- es or taking funds troin otber programs. sbe said. 'Ne know we wo't bave bo rob froin otber areas,' sbe said. Regardless of wbetber cutbacks are nec- -essary. Ms Kisko said board officiaIs arc always searcbing outI inefficiencies.- Last year Halton public board trustees debated long and bard and serîously con- sidered passing a deficit budget to proîest wbaîtbey believed was tbe vast under- funding of educaton in Ontario. In tbe end, a $285.5 millioîn balanced expenditure package was ratîfied. At tbe lime. tbe boards senior adminisîrators said iwas about $4 million shoni of wbat was needed 10 address immediate classroom and non-teacbing needs. Fast-forward almost one year and top senior board officiaIs are sînging a mucb bappier lune. The Halton public board bas received an addiîional S$164 million 1inii ve-ir îd1îîst i1g"tp iti itat ,aoouo îj 1 , O.ý 1îiiil lion tor special education. Tbe casb infu- sion, wbicb camne in stages, means tbe revised Halton board budget for tbe current scbool year is $300.4 million. As well, total govemnment granîs 10 tbe public board for 2003-04 bave been increased by anoîber $8.6 million to bring next year's ministry allotment 10 tbe board to $308.9 million. "Tbe pressure is off tbe big areas lîke special education,- said Ms Kisko. -Tbey (special cd. prograins) arc in good shape. Wc will finally be able to put some resources back tor the kids.- The bulk oif tbe $6.8 million tor special education is coming to thc board late in tbc current scbool year so it will bt applied to next ycar's special education budget, sbe saîd. Ms Kîsko and tbc board's Education Director Dusty Papke boîb agrce that the wild card in wbcîber the 20013-014 budget cao be balanced sitbout mucb tiîîkering is the tînancial impact of'îînguuîng contract negotiatiuîns witb various employce groîîps. 'i'bat's an unknown because we bave a of thein, due to pbased-in pay raises, is in hilich o! itri i.. e tii i I \l, "1t ilý1 I 1lic boit I o as ilineîdiation talk-,o îtb ils 75(1 fulI-tîme equivalent bîgb scbool teacb- crs April 24, tbeir first face-to-face meeting in two montbs. The teacbers' previous con- tract cxpired August 31, 2002. Mr. Papke bas tbe saine cotiLcins as Ms Kisko wben it comes t0 tbe budget and conîract tafks. "The question is bow mucb <money) will get caten up by tbe negotia- lions process.' The Ontario governient says il will gîve boards money to cover a 3 per cent pay increase f(tr ils employces i)ver one year. The mnajority of tbe $8.6 million in added grant money f'ir tbe boîard for nexî year, $5.9 million, is for that purpose. As (ar as the prospect of cutbacks 10 pro- grains or serices nexî year. Mr. Papke said, -Weere buîpîng we cao reacb agree- ments that will allow us nît to do tbat. 'Ne're optimistic tbat we'll be able 10 maîntain our prograins,' be said. Dawn Beekett-Morton, tbe boards ebief cuîntracî negotiator, indicated that among empluîyec deals ratifted s0 far across Ibe province, the annualiLed impact of many scbuîol board budgets is June 27. so, cai us 878-2341. Tliwr>bal, M t, 878-%34 6-9 p.mi. Milton Fair Grounds - Hall 1 Fantastic selection of Iocally grown, perennials, herbs, annuals, shrubs & trees. $$$$$ Great prices $$$$$ Ail proceeds wiII be used 10 beautify Milton 1 Fý 1 All proceeds will be used to beautify Milton