School District 69 (Qualicum)’s budget saw an increase by about $1.86 million, with an amended annual budget bylaw showing an increase to $57,010,198.
The amended bylaw (which passed all three readings during a school board meeting on Jan. 22) saw an increase from $55,155,040 in the budget bylaw passed in spring of last year.
The majority of the difference comes from Ministry of Education grants, said SD69’s secretary/treasurer Ron Amos.
“Our increase in enrolment resulted in an increase in the operating grant of $133,793 and the classroom enhancement fund was finalized with an increase of about $320,000 over last year,” he noted in an email to The NEWS.
Amos added that a decision to dip into the district’s operating surplus to the tune of $292,618 before the start of the school year allowed for the district to fill its expected staffing needs.
The amended budget bylaw shows that, of the $57,010,198 budget total, about $18 million will go towards teacher salaries, $2.98 million for principal and vice principal salaries, $3.59 million for educational assistants and $4.8 million for support staff.
To see the amended bylaw in full, go to www.sd69.bc.ca/Board/BoardMeetingAgendasMinutes/Pages/default.aspx and click on the 2019-01-22 Regular Board Meeting under the 2018-2019 tab.