LAKELAND - The Conseil scolaire Centre-Est (CSCE) has approved its 2020/21 budget, and is planning for a slight surplus.
The francophone school board approved the 2020-2021 budget on May 26, confirmed Superintendent Dolorese Nolette.
"This is a budget based on the return of learning to the classroom in September and that takes into account certain additional costs related to COVID-19," says Nolette.
The overall revenue budgeted is $17,335,939. Spending is forecasted to be $17,327,407, resulting in a small surplus of $8,532.
"Within this budget, the CSCE has increased the allowance for substitute teachers in schools, maintained the number of teachers in the classroom and can continue to offer certain specialized support to students with special needs," says Nolette.
The CSCE has schools throughout the Lakeland region, including St. Paul, Plamondon, Lac La Biche, Bonnyville, and Cold Lake.
"We currently serve 816 students and have projected conservatively at 818 for the coming school year," says Nolette, when asked about student enrolment.
The 2020/21 budget provides for the hiring of 58.67 FTE teaching staff.
"We have several part-time employees, at their request, so the actual people count is higher than this at around 80 people. . . As for educational assistants, there will be cutbacks in that area," says Nolette.
