School boards across Ontario are preparing for the worst, as the province warns that it could cut up to 2% of annual school grants.
Executive Superintendent of Corporate Services at the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board Mario Iatonna says his board is already projecting an $8-million decrease in provincial funding due to low enrollment in 2015-2016, but that could turn into $12-million after word from the Ministry of Education.
"We've put ourselves in a good position, with the reductions we've made in recent years and some of the school consolidations," explains Iatonna. "But cuts of the magnitude that are being contemplated still are going to be difficult for our board, as they will be for many (school) boards."
The province will announcement just how much money it'll cut this Thursday. Reports from the New Democratic Party have the figure at $500-million province-wide.
The Catholic school board's budget is typically about $245-million.
School board budgets are approved in late June.
