Reaching minds. Touching hearts. - Rainbow District School Board

Budget Overview
Provincial investments:
Approximately 12,000 fiction and non-fiction
books have been added to in-school library
collections.
The Province has allocated an additional
$342,000 for the purchase of new textbooks.
An additional $653,000 has been allocated to
reduce primary class sizes – the second year
of a four-year initiative. This has resulted in
a further increase of 12.5 teachers (full-time
equivalents) in JK to Grade 3.
With the reduction in primary class sizes, the
Board has more classroom space to maintain.
The Ministry has provided additional funds to
operate clean, safe schools.
More prep time is being provided to
elementary teachers in accordance with the
new collective agreement.
Four specialist teachers in music will visit
elementary schools to build capacity for
music education as recommended by the
Arts Education Task Force.
Rainbow District School Board received
funding for additional teachers to support
improved learning conditions at the secondary
level. Eleven student success teachers are
leading the implementation of student success
strategies in secondary schools. Classes have
also been reduced in essential, workplace
and college courses.
The Province has recognized that it’s more
expensive to operate smaller, rural schools.
Personnel Complement
Our human resources are our greatest asset.
Under the first phase of the Province’s Good
Places to Learn Initiative, Rainbow District
School Board received approval to obtain
$11.2 million in Ministry financing for capital
projects.
Board initiatives:
Rainbow District School Board has approved
increased expenditures in the classroom budget
that will benefit students in Rainbow Schools.
Work begun by the Arts Education Task Force
will continue with the implementation of a
number of recommendations.
The Computers Task Force will continue to
implement projects that advance the use of
technology in Rainbow Schools.
A new student information system
will be introduced.
Phase 2 of the three-year secondary school
network infrastructure upgrade will be
completed.
The Innovation Fund program will continue
for a second year.
Funding has been provided to support two
Learning to 18 initiatives.
A Board-wide Technology Skills Competition
will take place.
The Dearness Conservation Program will
be expanded to include a web page and the
development of curriculum.
Teaching and non-teaching staff bring their individual and collective
experience to the Board, making Rainbow Schools great places to learn.
Rainbow Schools - Personnel
Teaching
Actual
2004-2005
Budget
2005-2006
Elementary Schools 607 612
Secondary Schools 399 414
Non-teaching
Principals/Vice-Principals 57 59
Consultants/Co-ordinators 22 24
Secretaries in schools/The Gordon
Ewin Centre for Education
86 88
Custodial/Maintenance 153 158
Educational Assistants 152 130
Technicians 29 32
Student Services 12 18
Board Office 41 43
Total 1,558 1,578
Enrolment at a Glance
Rainbow District School Board is the largest
school board in Northern Ontario, with
enrolment remaining relatively stable.
According to official predicted enrolment
for the start of the 2005-2006 school year,
Rainbow District School Board welcomed
16,612 students in Rainbow Schools when
classes resumed on September 6th, 2005.
In the elementary panel, 9,996 students
were enrolled in Rainbow Schools including
7,421 in the English Program and 2,575 in
the French Immersion Program.
In the secondary panel, enrolment was
expected to reach 6,616 students including
5,826 in the English Program and 790 in
the French Immersion Program.
Enrolment is calculated as full-time
equivalents.
In the 2005-2006 school year, 874 children
entered Junior Kindergarten in Rainbow
Schools.
A total of 870 children enrolled in Senior
Kindergarten which includes the Literacy
Enriched Activity Program (LEAP).
A total of 1,510 students registered for
Grade 9 classes in area Rainbow Schools.
Official enrolment data is recorded at the
end of October.
Overview of Facilities
Since 1998,
Rainbow District
School Board
has significantly
consolidated its
facilities to ensure
the most effective
and efficient use of
space. This means
less money is spent
on facilities and
more money is
channeled directly
into the classroom,
where it will benefit
students the most.
The following figures do not include programs operated at
the Ruth MacMillan Centre and Cecil Facer Secondary School.
Facilities 1998 2005-2006
Elementary Schools 45 40
Secondary Schools 12 9
Administration 5 1
Total 62 50
Reaching minds. Touching hearts. 17 www.rainbowschools.ca