The School District of Mystery Lake (SDML) is on track with its budget and pandemic-related expenses as it awaits the provincial government announcing its portion of school funding for the 2021-22 school year within the next few weeks.
As of Jan. 24, the school year is about 45 per cent complete and the district has spent just under 37 per cent of the budget, secretary-treasurer Kelly Knott said at the Jan. 26 school board meeting.
COVID-19-related expenses up to Jan. 21 total $1.424 million, about 56 per cent of the $2.557 million budget for the year.
“We expect to spend an additional $1,027,000 for staff salaries and benefits to the end of June 30 so at this time we have a budget of $2.55 million and our anticipated expenditures are $2.4 million so we are still within anticipated levels,” Knott said.
Finance and personnel committee chair Don Macdonald said the province should announce its funding for public schools by Feb. 15.
“There’s several factors that will probably make this year’s announcement more complicated than prior years including COVID and changes to property tax,” Macdonald said.
The district expects to hold a public meeting on its financial plan for next year on Feb. 24, though it may be a virtual format due to ongoing pandemic precautions.
The board approved first reading of a bylaw to borrow $854,400 for two modular units provided by the province to be attached to Wapanohk Community Schools.
The province has also approved funding for renovations at R.D. Parker Collegiate including improvements to energy efficiency and some mechanical infrastructure updates. Technology investments made to support remote learning have been approved by the province as COVDID-related and the district has submitted a list of capital projects that are ready to get under way.
“Hopefully we get funding for them,” said Macdonald.
