Quick Highlights This column provides a quick overview of the budget highlights which are described in more detail in the body of this web page.

Increased Instruction Grades 1 to 6 instruction increased by the Ministry of Education by 90 minutes.

Kindergarten Instruction Increased A local initiative of the board will also increase kindergarten instruction by 90 minutes.

Additional Teaching Positions Over one million dollars has been provided for additional teaching positions.

Summer Literacy Camp As posted on our web site a Summer Literacy Camp has been created.

Allocation to Schools A $600,000 operating allocation has been forwarded to schools and centres.

Library Allocation Third year of the MELS program to increase library books in schools with over $1.1 million being spent.

International Student Program The international student program is growing with 57 full-time foreign students from over a dozen countries studying at Lester B. Pearson schools.

Caretaking Support Additional caretaking support within the schools and adult and vocational centres will be added.

Services to Adult Learners Place Cartier Adult Centre and Pearson Adult & Career Centre will operate throughout summer 2006. A New Vocational Centre will be opened! The Vocational Strategic Plan for the anglophone sector has received high praise from the Ministry.

Eco-Energy Project The first full year of its Eco-Energy Project with Johnson Controls will commence.

WHEREAS the Lester B. Pearson School Board must submit its 2006-2007 operating, investment and debt service budget to the Minister of Education, Leisure & Sport subject to the terms and conditions set by the Minister: WHEREFORE IT WAS MOVED BY Commissioner M. Tabachnick and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: THAT the Lester B. Pearson School Board 2006-07 budget showing total combined revenues of $203,987,737 and total combined expenditures of $203,987,737, and the operating plan upon which it is based, be adopted for submission to the Minister of Education, Leisure & Sport. At $203,987,737 the Council of Commissioners tonight adopted the ninth consecutive balanced budget for the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB). Though enrollment decreases had been forecast starting in the 2004-05 school year, and for 2006-2007 a net decrease of just under 700 students was included in the plan, the consolidation of its elementary school network that comes into effect on July 1st will prevent all planned expenditures from outpacing the declining enrollment-driven revenue.  The Major School Change process has been far-reaching and difficult, but the benefits can be seen throughout this budget plan. The budget-building process began in February with a Board-wide consultation on budget priorities.  School and centre Governing Boards, along with all other consultative partners, were asked to advise the Board on budget priorities.  The adoption of the 2006-07 Operating Budget is the culmination of that consultation process. The Board continues to strongly support its Strategic Plan and will review all programs to ensure viability and sustainability, specifically in the areas of numeracy and literacy, while fully implementing those elements regarding students with special needs that are the focus of new collective agreements with teaching and support staff.    DETAILS Increased Instruction The school board is pleased that the Ministry of Education, Leisure & Sport (MELS) has increased the teaching day in grades one through six by an additional 90 minutes of instruction per week.   Kindergarten Instruction Increased Through Local Initiative The Lester B. Pearson School Board is excited to announce that it will also be increasing the instruction at the kindergarten level by 90 minutes through a local initiative of adding teachers to the classroom to concentrate on literacy and numeracy at the beginning of the youngster’s journey through education.  Although not financed through MELS, the Lester B. Pearson School Board hopes to show the Ministry the value of increased instruction at this level in order to have it fully financed province wide in subsequent years.   Additional Teaching Positions Over one million dollars has been provided for additional teaching positions at the elementary and secondary levels while additional allocations have been devoted to student services to assist students with special needs. Summer Literacy Camp The School Board will create a summer school literacy camp in addition to the summer "Mathletics" program which is designed for elementary students.  These programs are an exciting venture to ensure our students are prepared for the upcoming school year. Allocation to Schools A $600,000 operating allocation has been forwarded to schools and centres in order to encourage local initiatives while an additional $200,000 will be provided for local capital initiatives above the operating and capital per capita grants which are distributed annually. MELS Library Allocation We are beginning the third year of the MELS program to increase library books in schools with over $1.1 million being spent.  The Lester B. Pearson School has added librarians to the system in order to support the additional books purchased and encourage literacy in our young readers. International Student Program Grows The international student program is growing with 57 full-time foreign students from over a dozen countries studying at Lester B. Pearson schools.  The summer of 2006 will also see 90 students from Spain and 25 Chinese students learning in our high schools about life in Canada.  Our students will again participate in an exchange to England during the upcoming year while we look at developing an exchange to Latvia in the 2007-2008 school year. Caretaking Support to Schools and Centres Additional caretaking support within the schools and adult and vocational centres will be added, plus an additional $150,000 budgeted for the safety inspection of gymnasium equipment. Services to Adult Learners To respond to the growing demand for Adult Education services in our community, the Board will continue to operate the Place Cartier Adult Centre and Pearson Adult & Career Centre throughout summer 2006.   New Vocational Centre A new vocational centre will open its doors in Lachine – the newly-christened Pearson Electro-Technology Centre.   Vocational Strategic Plan – Anglophone Sector The Ministry has also recognized the need for new programs in Vocational Training.  The Strategic Plan for the Anglophone sector that was unanimously adopted by all nine English school boards, and has received high praise from the Minister though the Board awaits final MELS confirmation. The Plan will guide this expanding sector in delivering up-to-date programs for students seeking rapid entry into working careers. Eco-Energy Project The Board continues to pursue innovative ways to pay for capital costs and will be entering the first full year of its Eco-Energy Project with Johnson Controls. This project allowed for immediate improvements to be done on many buildings while funding the costs out of energy savings to be realized over the next nine years.  Arising out of this partnership, a science component will enhance the school curriculum so that students can better understand the impact of the Project in their local school. New School The Board will also open its new ecologically-friendly elementary school (Forest Hill Senior Elementary School) in St. Lazare in August 2006. Fiscal Responsibility The Board is determined to maintain its financially-responsible ways.  Neither the Council of Commissioners nor the senior Administration can accept deficit budgeting.  The Board continues to set its budget conservatively.  Only when the final enrollment is confirmed, at the end of September, will the Board consider any changes to the spending forecast contained in this balanced budget. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2005-06 The Board is expecting its July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006 financial statements to achieve a positive result. The final results will be confirmed and delivered to the Council, at a public meeting in October 2006, together with the report of the external auditors. To view the financial statements click on this link  FinancialStatements.pdf