Trustees at the St. Clair Catholic District School Board have unanimously approved the 2017-2018 budget.
Board Chair John Van Heck says the budget includes an operating surplus of almost $1-million that is earmarked for staff post retirement benefits. He adds that the budget is in compliance with all Ministry of Education rules.
"The Ministry of Education expects us to carry that surplus because we have $970,000 in future retirement benefits that we have to cover. So, of that $1-million, $970,000 of that is money we have to keep on our books for future benefits and retirement," says Van Heck.
He says the balanced budget means the board is healthy going into the future.
It's the fifth year the board has delivered a budget with a surplus.
Van Heck says the board will be hiring a few new teachers and other staff, too.
"It's a small increase in staffing. We're increasing total staffing and that doesn't include just teaching staff. That number is spread across teachers and other personnel within our board," Van Heck says.
He says the religion and family life program is also getting a boost.
"We're going to spend about $220,000 on new electronic curriculum. So, not only will we have text books and hard things to teach our students with in the classrooms but teachers and parents will be able to go on and connect with the family life curriculum at home through web-based applications," says Van Heck.
