Waterloo Region – Last night trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board unanimously approved the Board’s 2009-10 school year budget – as recommended by Board Administration.

The overall budget breaks down as follows (change from 08/09 noted in brackets):

* Total Operating: $213,537,496 ( + $16.8 million)
* Total Capital: $14,887,456 ( - $48,754)
* Total Operating & Capital: $228,424,952 ( + $16.7 million)

Key elements of the operating budget are:

* Learning Services = Day School & Special Education: $168.7 million ( +$24.9 million)
* Special Education portion = $25.3 million ( + $1.3 million)
* School Operations & Maintenance (heat, hydro, energy conservation, etc.): $21 million ( + $2.1 million)
* Student Transportation: $6.68 million ( - $200,000)
* Adult & Continuing Education: $9.8 million ( + $2.3 million)
* Board Administration: $6.3 million ( + $100,000)

The capital portion of the budget includes $3 million for school renewal ( + $100,000).

The complete budget package is available on the Board’s web site at: www.wcdsb.ca. Click “About Us”, followed by “Financial Information.”

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 100,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 52 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education first begun in 1836.