OCDSB mulls budget options in quest to save $20M
Programs including adult high school, special education could be cut or pared down to avoid 5th deficit
Ottawa's largest public school board is mulling ways to find close to $20 million in savings in order to avoid a fifth consecutive deficit, before finalizing its budget next month.
At an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) committee of the whole meeting Wednesday night, chief financial officer Randy Gerrior presented trustees with a range of cost-saving options as the board finds itself in a vulnerable financial position with no reserves. Under the Education Act, school boards in Ontario are required to pass a balanced budget by June 30.
Among the potential measures under discussion are cuts to some programs such as adult high school, and reorganizing other programs such as special education.
The board is also looking at selling off surplus properties that have been sitting vacant, such as the former McGregor Easson Public School on Dynes Road.
The board could also rein in short-term discretionary spending on guest speakers, travel and other expenses not related to the classroom.
"I do believe we've identified enough potential reductions [that] we could present a balanced budget to the trustees and we could execute that balanced budget next year and move toward better financial health," Gerrior told CBC.
Gerrior warned the board can't be sure it has struck the right balance until this fall's enrolment figures are finalized.
Trustee Lyra Evans said she understands the need to make tough decisions, but worried staff would leave trustees no choice but to approve their preferred cuts. Gerrior said it would be unrealistic for trustees to expect "a buffet of options."
Financial pressures
Among the financial pressures detailed in Gerrior's report is the provincial moratorium on school closures. The OCDSB must maintain more than 17,000 vacant pupil spaces, costing the board nearly $20 million in revenue, according to the report.
"The funding formula for the operations of the Facilities Department is based on a per pupil amount, meaning the organization is not properly funded to support the administrative infrastructure and operating costs of under-utilized schools," the report said.
Gerrior said during the meeting that even if that moratorium was lifted, the board wouldn't immediately be able to recoup all of that money.
Other key pressures include paying supply teachers when permanent staff take sick leave, as well as statutory benefits, inflation, portables classrooms and special education supports.
Too few payroll clerks
During Wednesday's meeting, Gerrior said the board's administration cannot be the only area considered for cuts, noting the board has "had trouble making payroll a couple of times" due to a lack of clerks.
"If you cut more of my finance clerks who work in payroll, I wouldn't be able to meet those obligations [to pay employees]," he told CBC. " We're squeezing as hard as we can, but you know it can't all be administration."
At one point, trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth asked if lowering the temperature in schools could help save money. The board's director of education Pino Buffone said when that was tried in the past, staff brought in their own space heaters, upping energy costs.
"So it's not just simple reduction in a degree — it can actually do the reverse effect," he said.
Staff will present a budget to trustees on June 10, which Gerrior said would contain more details about proposed reductions. The board is slated to vote on the budget June 23.
"We absolutely have a plan, but the trustees do have to be willing to approve that plan. I know some of the recommendations we're going to make are not popular recommendations with the community members or the trustees," Gerrior said.