The Near North District School Board has passed a balanced 2019-20 budget.

Officials say they carefully reviewed programs, administrative positions and expenditures to minimize the impact of funding reductions on students and staff.

The board has reallocated $127,000 from Vice Principals salaries to programming for students and removed unsustainable programs.

In an email to BayToday, board chair Jay Aspin says they ended the expensive International Baccalaureate Program at Chippewa after an “unfavourable five year cost/benefit analysis”.

The board has also created a committee to review educational spending.

“These changes mark the start of a transition with the NNDSB with a view to ensuring value for money spent in the system and to be student centric to ensure all students have quality education and sustainable programming,” Aspin says.

Filed under: Near North District School Board