The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has approved its budget for the upcoming school year, with increases in both operating and capital costs.
Trustees have approved an operating spending plan of more than $210.6 million, up about $8 million from last year and a capital budget of close to $27.4 million, up around $500,000 from last year.
The board says the increases are due to recently negotiated labour agreements which include salary increases and other funding allocations.
The budget also includes a small in-year surplus of just under $72,000, as needed according to the Ministry of Education.
Budgets and staffing levels for departments and individual schools are remaining close to the same as last year, even with the need for COVID-19 related upgrades.
The school board says there is no explicit contingency amount included in the spending plan.
