Beaver Staff
School’s just about out for the summer but plans are already underway for the fall when students will ideally return for in-class learning.
Recently the Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2021-2022 School Year Calendar.
The approved calendar allows for a traditional start for students following Labour Day. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. Staff will begin the school year with a Professional Activity (PA) Day on Friday, Sept. 3.
Every school year must include a minimum of 194 school days including seven PA Days and 187 instructional days. Each semester is equally divided into 97 days.
The School Year Calendar requires the following school holidays:
- Every Saturday and Sunday
- Labour Day – Monday, September 6, 2021
- Thanksgiving Day – Monday, October 11, 2021
- 14 consecutive days for December Break – December 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022
- Family Day – Monday, February 21, 2022
- Five consecutive days for March Break – March 14 to March 18, 2022 inclusive
- Good Friday – Friday, April 15, 2022
- Easter Monday – Monday, April 18, 2022
- Victoria Day – Monday, May 23, 2022
Additionally, there are seven Professional Activity (PA) Days throughout the year.
- Friday, September 3, 2021
- Friday, October 1, 2021
- Monday, November 1, 2021
- Wednesday, February 2, 2022 (Semester 2 turnaround day)
- Friday, April 29, 2022
- Friday, June 3, 202
- Thursday, June 30, 2022
Families, caregivers, students, staff, unions and federations, and community partners were invited to provide feedback on the calendar through an online survey. Both the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board will follow the same school-year calendar due to shared transportation.
-The Limestone District School Board of Trustees approved a balanced budget for the 2021-2022 school year totalling $280.7 million at its regular meeting on June 16, 2021.
The 2021-2022 budget is compliant with the Ministry of Education requirements, with total operating expenditures of $260.6 million, a decrease of approximately $1 million over last year’s expenditures. The capital expenditures budget for next year is $23.8 million and is used to fund school condition improvements and school renewal projects.
“Staff have presented a balanced budget that directs services and supports with a focus on student achievement and well-being as outlined in the Board’s strategic priorities,” says Board Chair Suzanne Ruttan in a release from the Limestone District School Board. “Reviewing and passing the budget is one of the board’s most important roles as governors, and I would like to thank trustees for their work, diligence and thoughtful enquiries to ensure our finite resources are directed in a manner that supports the vision and values of this Board.”
The majority of the operating budget is directed to student instruction and relates directly to classroom supports.
Some highlights of the 2021-2022 budget:
- Hiring of a human rights and equity officer (the Ministry of Education funds this position in some boards but not LDSB);
- Hiring of additional program staff to support equity, literacy and arts education; and
- Purchase of additional information technology equipment to support virtual learning and professional development.
“Trustees spent a considerable amount of time reviewing staff reports and input from stakeholders across our school communities to approve a budget that always keeps student at the forefront by funding classroom supports as much as possible,” says Vice-Chair Tom Gingrich, Chair of the Budget Committee. “Like every public school board across the province, we will continue to face ongoing budgetary challenges, and we will continue to advocate on behalf of students, families and staff to ensure appropriate and flexible funding.”