John Hrajnik, the Dufferin-Peel Board's associate director of education, told about 50 or so in attendance at Tuesday night's public budget presentation that the proposed financial plan is "a good news budget."
Many school boards are not in that position, officials say, in many cases because of reduced grants to boards with declining enrollment.
The Dufferin-Peel Board is looking at a $707-million budget, an increase of $13.6 million from last year. The operating cost per pupil is $8,486, eight per cent lower than the provincial average of $9,213.
"We have to balance student achievement with a balanced budget," Hrajnik said. "This ensures students' needs are met."
Last fall, trustees regained financial control of the Board from Norbert Hartmann, the supervisor appointed in October 2006 by Queen's Park to balance the Board's budget after trustees refused to do it themselves.
Following public consultation, the budget will be presented June 17 to the Board for approval, and then sent to the Ministry of Education, as required, by June 30.
jslack@mississauga.net
