Trustees with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board proved successful in passing a balanced budget for the 2002-2003 school year. The Board approved a budget of $54.7 million in its last meeting before the summer break on Thursday, June 27.

Jody Cameron, Chair of the Board, stated that, “the whole process of bringing in a balanced budget for 2002-03 was not an easy task by any means. Some very difficult and tough decisions had to be made in order for us to meet the bottom line of a zero deficit. However at the end of the day we are confident that we were able to come up with a financial document that we all could live with. The Board and Trustees were of the same mind from the outset that cuts would have to be made as equally and fairly as possible across the system.

Associate Director – Corporate Services and Treasurer of the Board, Robert Boucher added that the Board managed to balance its budget by adopting a number of creative and cost-saving measures, some of which include; a more efficient employee fringe benefits and employee annual deposit plan; reducing material and equipment purchases by drawing on existing inventories, not replacing 12 full-time equivalent positions because of declining enrolments, and finally, by drawing $447,000 from reserves in order to maintain teacher professional development days, a curriculum support teacher, recognition events for 25 years of service and retiring employees. This draw also ensured that there would be no cuts in classroom textbooks and supplies and allowed St. Anthony’s school in Gatchell to remain open. Mr. Boucher also noted that the Board, “will continue to petition the Ministry of Education to address the inadequate amount of funding for Catholic elementary and secondary education.”.