b'DOLLARS&CENTSAt a special meeting on Tuesday, March 12, the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) Board of Trustees approved a $247,000,027 budget for the 2024-25 school year. offering early years programming, with a Ensuring the success of our students is at the heartprojected cost of $2,571,469. This projectedcost includes:of our decision-making, said Sandy Nemeth, LRSD Board Chair. With careful consideration of ourAdditional Teaching Staff (22.00 FTE); strategic priorities, we have allocated resources toAdditional Educational Assistantssupport student success and address the needs of(12.50 FTE); our rapidly growing school division. This budget A one-time Furniture and Resource cost; andTransportation (cost savings).will enable us to continue delivering high-quality education while meeting the evolving needs of allFoundations are everything, said Christian our students and staff. Michalik, Superintendent & CEO. By adding Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK) to all 30 schools, were laying a foundation for every childs success. This initiative supports working families, nurtures Of the 7.5 per cent increase to the special levy in the 2024-25students, and strengthens our community. Im budget, 6.5 per cent is allocated for additional classroom andlooking forward to the work ahead collaborating support staff, bringing the total to 675 full-time equivalentwith staff, families, and childcare partners to (FTE) educational assistants and 1,193 (FTE) teachers, includingimplement the Boards vision.principals and vice-principals; six additional bus routes, bringing the total to 91; and an increase of $1,572,829 to the maintenance and local infrastructure budget, signaling a commitment toPROJECTED ADDITIONAL COSTrepairing and upgrading aging elementary and high schoolTO MAKE FULL-DAYbuildings.KINDERGARTEN UNIVERSALAs we navigate the challenges of growing enrolment andAdditional Schools21inflation, as well as having for too long underfunded theAdditional Classes42maintenance of aging school buildings, this budget emphasizesAdditional Teaching Staffa forward-thinking approach to providing adequate and(22.00 FTE) $2,248,726sustainable funding for public education in LRSD, said JamieAdditional EducationalRudnicki, Secretary-Treasurer. Assistants (12.50 FTE) $554,510The other 1 per cent of the special levy is for the expansion Furniture and Resources(One-Time) $112,000of Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK) to all 30 schoolsTransportation (Cost Savings) ($343,767)Projected Additional Cost $2,571,46910'