June 17th, 2022

Trustees approved the 2022-2023 school year budget at the June 15, 2022, Special Board Meeting.

Trustees received a balanced budget that meets our legislative requirement with:

  • Revenues of $841M
  • A capital budget of $75.3M

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) Financial Services team worked diligently with all departments to create the 2022-23 budget. They analyzed spending trends and made adjustments where necessary. This will ensure financial stability while we work towards achieving our operational goals.

“Preparing a balanced budget for the WRDSB takes many months of hard work by the dedicated members of our Financial Services department. I want to thank them for ensuring we are able to approve a budget that meets provincial requirements, and allows us to support students in achieving their full potential on their learning journey.”
– Scott Piatkowski, Chair of the Board of Trustees

“The ongoing commitment of our Financial Services team ensures we are able to adapt to budgetary pressures that we encounter while providing high levels of support to our students and staff as we move into the next phase of the pandemic. Staff have planned for another safe reopening of our schools and worksites with the resources we have been provided by the Ministry of Education.

Our approach will allow us to remain flexible and responsive to the needs of WRDSB students and staff. I want to express my appreciation for the Board of Trustees for their guidance and approval of this budget.”
– Matthew Gerard, Coordinating Superintendent Business Services and Treasurer

Budget Highlights

COVID-19 Related Funding

As part of the 2022-23 Grants for Student Needs (GSN) announcement, the Ministry provided $8.9M in additional funding to cover:

  • Extraordinary learning recovery costs related to COVID-19
  • A safe return to school for students and staff across the province

The WRDSB has been forecast to receive an additional:

  • $1.08M in funding through the Student Mental Health envelope. This funding will support, amongst other supports:
    • System navigators
    • Psychologists
    • Student mental health consultants
  • $1.2M in funding to support additional staffing and capital support to enhance our broadband network.
  • $1.2M in funding to support school operations which includes the following in accordance with the direction provided during the pandemic:
    • Increased use of ventilation systems
    • More frequent filter changes

Targeted Ministry Investments

Each year, the Ministry of Education identifies and allocates funding for key priorities. These align with the government’s vision for education in Ontario. Investments are made through Priority and Partnership Funds. They change from year-to-year based on:

  • Ministry priorities
  • Availability of financial resources.

Mathematics

This funding allows boards to hire central and school-based positions, as well as support release time, to enhance student math performance. The provincial allocation is $44.32M and WRDSB will receive $1.2M. This allocation remains unchanged from the previous school year.

Summer Learning for Students with Special Education Needs

The funding is intended to support school boards in delivering the following to support students with special education needs:

  • Transition programs
  • Additional staffing during the summer

The provincial allocation is $10M and WRDSB will receive $220,100.

Tutoring Supports Program

This allocation is intended to support school boards as they address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boards received 50% of the allocation to be spent between April 1, 2022 and August 31, 2022. The remaining 50% is to be spent from September 2022 to December 2022. The provincial allocation is $175.2M and WRDSB will receive $2.8M. This amount remains unchanged from the previous school year.

Capital Funding

The capital budget for the 2022-2023 school year is $75.3M. This includes school renewal projects at $8.2M and school condition improvements of $32.6M. New capital projects include Breslau-Hopewell Creek in Breslau with a budget of $16.5M.