EMSB Chairman Lauds Strong Financial Position and Injection of Funds to Schools

The English Montreal School Board will record a healthy surplus for 2015-16, Chairman Angela Mancini has announced. She noted that this allowed for new funds to be injected directly to schools and centres, an exercise that will be repeated in the coming months.

“Our sound financial management in 2015-2016 has allowed us to invest in our schools and centres” said Ms. Mancini. “We have adopted a balanced budget for the 2016-2017 school year, and have taken advantage of new Ministry rules that allow spending of accumulated surplus funds from previous years. EMSB is one of the few school boards that can take advantage of these new rules. Our primary objective is to decentralize funds to schools and centres, and allow administrators, staff and governing boards to decide where to allocate the funds in terms of materials, services, building renovation and educational projects.”

During the 2015-2016 academic year, each school and centre received $20,000 to use for educational materials or renovations in their respective buildings. Some of the other highlights included: cleaning of HVAC systems; purchase of tools and specialized materials for vocational education programs; tutoring services for high school students; library books; and painting of 18 elementary school buildings. We are proud that these investments benefit all EMSB students, whether they are in the youth, adult and vocational sectors.

There is some great news for the St. Pius X Career Centre in Ahuntsic; the EMSB will invest over $5 million to build a new section for the growing and popular culinary program.

Also, at Bancroft Elementary School in the Plateau, Phase III of the upgrade to their building will proceed as scheduled. Westmount Park Elementary School and Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemount will both benefit with major building renovations and upgrades. “It is important that we invest in these three facilities, not only because they are more than 100 years old, but also because they are part of our English community’s heritage buildings” said Ms. Mancini.

“On the eve of a new school year, I am delighted to make such a positive announcement” said Ms. Mancini. “There are very few school boards in Quebec which can boast having available surplus funds that can be reinvested in schools and centres.”

The EMSB adopted its budget for 2016-2017 on June 28.