The Simcoe County District School Board has agreed to move ahead with its budget despite being short of money for transportation.

Like all school boards across the province, the SCDSB is grappling with rising fuel costs as trustees work on 2008-2009 budgets.

“It is not reasonable to expect, given our current service levels in policy, that we be able to provide at those service levels within current funding, if the cost of fuel remains the way it is,” said superintendent Carol McAulay. “Having said that, I am not proposing that we change the budget. Every school board in the province is having an issue.”

McAulay said, after speaking with ministry officials, she believes another round of grants for student needs, which cover transportation costs, will be given by the ministry sometime in July.

“I propose we will deal with that when the second announcement comes out, and administration will bring it for your (trustees) approval early in the fall,” she said.

Trustee Caroline Smith said she does not feel comfortable approving an unbalanced budget.

“I don’t think passing the budget and saying ‘it’s going to be okay’ is necessarily the right message to give the public or the ministry,” Smith said. “I don’t think it’s okay that the ministry doesn’t give us the information of what they are going to give us for transportation and gas until July, and ask me to put my name on a budget now and say it's done.”

At past meetings of the board, Smith has advocated for the establishment of a Plan B policy, knowing the potential shortfalls.

“We should be looking at revising our transportation policies at this point in time because it is a long process to change a policy,” she said. “Should we need a change in policy, we will have to go the public, explain the problem. We at least have to discuss options.”

Trustee Donna Armstrong was against the idea of a Plan B.

“We aren’t the only strange situation, so I’m not too worried,” she said. “I’m not going to spend a second on changing our policy until that provincial government begins working on a transportation funding formula.”

SCDSB trustees did discuss a number of possible solutions to deal with the fuel costs in the long term, including looking into four-day school weeks and teaming up with municipal transit systems to bus secondary students in Barrie and Orillia.

Trustee Debra Edwards asked board staff whether or not the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium could afford to give up its office on Bryne Drive in Barrie to help alleviate some costs.

The consortium is a partnership between the SCDSB and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and facilitates student transportation in the county.

The consortium office comes with a yearly lease of $41,000, which is covered 50/50 by the SCDSB and the SMCDSB.

Edwards said discussions need to happen with the other board about breaking the lease agreement.

“Desperate times require desperate measures,” she said. “Is this lease something we could consider to get out of? Gasoline is going up, our budget is depleting … we need to think on our feet.”

Trustees are expected to approve the 2008/2009 budget at the meeting June 18.