Yellowknife (May 09/03) - More teachers, more support staff and a better band program are in the budget for Yellowknife Catholic Schools.

Last week administration released the 2003-2004 draft budget at an empty public information meeting.

"We didn't have to make any cuts. I wouldn't say it was easy but not having to make any cuts is a good thing," said presenter Mike Huvenaars, assistant superintendent of business.

Huvenaars had a tough job to do.

He had to work around an increase in utility costs, insurance, maintenance, salaries and benefits while trying to balance the books.

But to counteract the higher costs, administration is anticipating a jump in revenue.

Huvenaars is projecting a slight increase in funding now the district educates 40 per cent of the student population in Yellowknife -- up one per cent from last year.

Huvenaars said there will also be more available tax dollars because of the building boom over the past year.

The $16 million budget -- which has yet to be approved by the school board -- includes hiring 2.19 full-time equivalent teachers, adding an extra 20 hours of student support and hiring an additional teacher to help the three schools address specific learning needs.

There will be more instructional hours added to the band program in all the schools.

The district also plans to hire a Career and Technical Centre coordinator to begin program planning for an early 2004 opening. With more staff the student-teacher ratio for next school year will be 15.30 students to every teacher from 15.54 students per teacher last year.

The ratio is lower than the territorial requirements of 16 students for every teacher.

"The teacher-student ratio is going down, down, down," said Huvenaars.

The student population is projected to increase by about 40 students -- from 1,449.5 to 1,490 -- in 2003.

Most of the new students will be at Weledeh Catholic school.

The draft budget will be reviewed at the next regular board meeting May 21, 7:30 p.m., at St. Patrick high school.

The Catholic school board is responsible for three Yellowknife schools - St. Patrick high school, Weledeh Catholic school and Ecole St. Joseph.