Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on April 26 to discuss grant funding for the 2023-2024 school year, as well as the Director’s Work Plan. The funding report was presented by Executive Superintendent of Business Services Jeremy Hobbs, and the Director’s Work Plan (DWP) was presented by Director of Education Ron Ferguson and Executive Superintendent of Student Success and Innovation Eric Hardie.
The Grants for Student Needs (GSN) is a collection of grants from the Ministry of Education which determines the annual funding for public school boards. Hobbs reported that based on Capital Funding, Priorities and Partnerships Funding, and GSN changes for the next school year, the UCDSB is projected to receive $388.6 million in funding. This amount is assumed stable, and even if there are some funding changes that come along, the UCDSB will be able to absorb them without changing service levels.
Hobbs said that one area of concern is a new transportation funding formula slated for 2023-2024. Preliminary analysis indicates this new formula will result in higher costs for the UCDSB when fully implemented in the 2027-2028 school year. A proposed 2023-2024 budget will be presented to Trustees on May 24 for the board’s consideration.
Regarding the Director’s Work Plan, Ferguson and Hardie presented an update to the DWP that adds concrete actions to the directions in the Strategic Plan to improve the education and wellness of students and staff. The goals for the 2023-2024 school year include improving conditions to attain a 90 percent graduation rate, enhancing student mental and physical health, engaging students, staff, and community partners in real-world learning and enhancing pathways, and ensuring staff have the resources they need to succeed and feel supported by the district.
Trustees voted in favour of the Director’s Work Plan for implementation in the 2023-2024 school year.
