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McGuinty Government
strengthens School Funding Formula -
August 14, 2007
$309 million over next two years puts boards and schools in
Huron-Bruce on solid ground
Clinton — The McGuinty government is strengthening
public education and improving the funding formula by investing an
additional $309 million in public funding over the next two years,
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell announced today.
“Since taking office we have been working together to make public
education the best education, including fixing a flawed funding
formula,” said Mitchell. “I believe that this commitment today is the
fix our school boards here in Huron-Bruce have been waiting for to put
them on firm financial ground.
The government is providing an additional $182 million for the 2007-08
school year, in addition to the $781 million funding increase announced
in March.
For boards in Huron-Bruce, this means:
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$1,598,347 for the Avon Maitland District School
Board
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$2,277,793 for the Bluewater District School
Board
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$598,599 for the Grey-Bruce Catholic District
School Board
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$611,157 for the Huron-Perth Catholic District
School Board
This investment will support further improvements to
the education funding formula through:
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$41 million to fund more 300 vice-principals in
large schools
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$20 million to improve the maintenance and
operation of our schools
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$12 million to continue transportation funding
reform by ensuring boards receive funding that more accurately
reflects the real costs of school bus operation and maintenance
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$20 million to improve support for Education
Assistants
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$52 million to ensure funding for professionals,
para-professionals, secretaries and supply teachers more closely
reflects actual school board costs
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$20 million to fund 240 more primary teachers to
help with the implementation of smaller primary class sizes
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$5 million for school office supplies
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$12 million in additional support for rural
schools
“School boards worked hard this year to put together
strong programs and balanced budgets,” said Education Minister Kathleen
Wynne. “This enhancement will help to alleviate many of the pressures
that boards have told me they face and will ensure they can continue to
provide a stable learning environment for our students.”
For 2008-09, an additional $127 million will be provided to further
strengthen the funding formula by better matching funding with current
costs. This investment will focus on additional areas that boards have
identified, such as English-as-a-Second-Language, schools in areas of
local growth, adult education, school board operations and local
education priorities.
The government will also review the progress made in improving the
funding formula by 2010. The review will evaluate whether the funding
formula supports the government’s education priorities for improved
achievement in all our schools around the province.
Since 2003, the McGuinty government has made significant improvements to
how education funding is delivered. These investments are producing
results for Ontario’s students with rising student achievement, smaller
primary class sizes and higher graduation rates.
Since taking office, the government has increased education funding by
$3.7 billion — an increase of $2,156 per student, or 29 per cent. For
2007-08, education funding has increased by $963 million or $556 per
student compared to last year.
“When we get public education right, we get the best citizens, the best
workers, the best jobs and the best society,” said Premier Dalton
McGuinty. “Today’s announcement builds on four years of progress and
determination to make public education the best education.”
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For more information, please contact:
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Huron-Bruce
519-482-5630 |
