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Yk Education District No. 1 briefs Trustee concerned about overspending Laura Busch Northern News Services Published Friday, December 16, 2011
Longtime trustee Terry Brookes voiced concerns about spending at Yk Education District No. 1, pointing to the 2011-2012 budget approved in May, which projected a deficit of $427,546. Three additional budget approvals passed Tuesday include an upgrade of band instruments, hiring new kindergarten staff for Mildred Hall School, and hiring new staff for William McDonald School. The three items added about $100,000 to the deficit. It is now estimated the school district will spend $832,546 more than it brings in for the year. "I'm not against the motions, but I think we have to be careful with the public's money," said Brookes. Over the past two years, the board has spent about $1.7 million more than it has brought in, Brookes said. Most of this spending involved one-time costs, mostly to update technology, said Tram Do, director of corporate services. Even with the projected deficit this year, the board will still have an accumulated surplus of about $1.4 million, she said. In June of 2010, Yk1 was running a surplus of about $3.5 million and trustees were told by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to draw that down, said Do, adding the plan is to have a balanced budget for the 2012/2013 school year. This year's revenue is $30,734,404 while expenditures are at $31,566,950. Route 51 needs new building The public school board's alternative high school program, Route 51, is looking for a new building for September 2012. The program's current space in the Roman Empire building on 51 Avenue was recently bought out and will be undergoing renovations beginning in the summer of 2012. The trustees discussed possible locations for the new space, mentioning that Route 51 students generally don't like to be located near Sir John Franklin High School and that a downtown-area location would be preferred. The new location should meet the program needs of today, but should also ensure that signing a lease doesn't limit potential future growth, said Allan Shortt, chairperson for Yk1. The estimated yearly budget for Route 51 is $552,000. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment covers about 80 per cent of that, with the rest of the funding coming from municipal taxes. Le Festival du Voyageur Students in the enhanced French program are going to Winnipeg to attend Le Festival du Voyageur an annual event that celebrates francophone and aboriginal cultures. Representatives from the enhanced French program from Range Lake North School proposed the trip on behalf of 43 students in grades 7 and 8 who plan to go. This is the third year advanced French students have gone on a cultural trip. The entire trip is to cost $44,741 total. Fundraising efforts are estimated to raise $12,280 of this, said Jodi Keats, Grade 7 advanced French teacher at Range Lake North, in front of the board of trustees Tuesday night. The total cost includes a $27,606 flight tab, and $4,920 for food. Originally, the plan was to have students cover their own meals, but it will be easier to ensure the kids are eating healthy if it's covered, Keats said. The total cost also includes three nights in a hotel plus a sleepover at the museum on the last night before they leave for the airport the next morning. Meeting in new year The next public meeting of the Yk1 board of trustees is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2012.
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