Hamilton’s school boards have combined budgets of $1 billion. How is it being spent?

A billion dollars.

That's the combined operating budget projected for Hamilton's two largest publicly funded school boards for next year.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board's (HWDSB) anticipated budget is $625.3 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) is projecting a budget of about $390.9 million.

The public board's budget increased by about $7 million from 2021-22, while the Catholic board budget decreased by nearly $2 million.

An HWCDSB report says it has reduced its teaching staff by the equivalent of 61 full-time teachers, mostly elementary, resulting from the significant reduction in the number of virtual classes."

Budgets - which are balanced and fulfil provincial requirements - were passed unanimously at both boards. At the public board, there were no questions from trustees.

School boards are largely funded through Grants for Student Needs (GSN), a per-student amount provided by the Ministry of Education.

The HWDSB is expecting a student enrolment increase of nearly one per cent - from 49,848 in 2021-22 to 50,331 next year - due to families moving into our community and students returning to school in person," a report reads. The Catholic board is also expecting an enrolment increase of about 110 students.

Both boards are projecting a large Grade 8 cohort moving to high school in the fall.

Salaries for classroom teachers account for more than half of the operating budget - $358.7 million at the public board and $195.5 million at the Catholic board.

Other staff, including principals, consultants, educational assistants and early-childhood educators, account for $100.5 million at the public board and $89.2 million at the Catholic board.

The public board budget initially cut 43 jobs, re-adding 38 in June using COVID funding. Associate director Stacey Zucker told trustees in June that 28 temporary positions will be dedicated to helping students with behaviour challenges."

Next year's budget includes one-time funding for COVID-19 learning recovery.

About $3 million in COVID-19 learning recovery funds remain at of the HWDSB's $7.1 million in total. The Catholic board has allocated $4.5 million to recovery in 2022-23. The funding can be used to support both students and school operations, including mental-health services, remote learning, additional staff to support learning, reducing class sizes and enhanced cleaning.

An HWCDSB report points to the budget's commitment to equity and closing learning gaps, with a focus on designated equal opportunities" schools, which includes Cathedral High School and several elementary schools in central and east Hamilton.

Given the significant impact of the pandemic on student learning, many students in these schools will require learning-recovery supports and other resources to allow for the greatest positive impact on student success and well-being," the report reads.

At the Catholic board, COVID funding has been incorporated into appropriate categories in the budget.

Here's a look at how taxpayer dollars are being spent:

Breakdown of HWDSB operating budget (in millions)

• Classroom teachers: $358.7

• Other staff: $100.5

• Textbooks and other supplies: $16.5

• Computers: $5.6

• Staff development: $2.9

• School administration: $36.6

• Continuing education: $8

• Board administration and governance: $15.1

• Operations and maintenance: $53.8

• Transportation: $18.8

• COVID-19 Learning Recovery Fund: $3

• Compensation allocation: $4.7

• Unallocated: $1

Breakdown of HWCDSB operating budget (in millions)

• Classroom teachers: $195.9

• Other staff: $83.3

• Textbooks and other supplies: $9.3

• Computers: $0.7

• Staff development: $0.8

• School administration: $9.1

• Continuing education: $7.5

• Board administration and governance: $11.4

• Operations and maintenance: $33.5

• School renewal: $2.4

• Other pupil accommodations (interest on capital debt): $3.7

• Amortization: $20.5

• Other nonoperating (including PPE): $3.8

• Transportation: $8.9

Boards also approved this spring estimated capital budgets - $99.3 million at the HWDSB at $33.8 million at the HWCDSB - which include construction projects, interest on capital debt (funded directly by the province), temporary accommodations and amortization.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com