The Ottawa Catholic School Board has approved a balanced budget for the upcoming school year, with one east-end trustee calling the move another step in providing "first-class education" to area students.

The budget, totalling $367.6 million, includes an additional $2 million in classroom spending – an almost 15 per cent increase – for the 2008-2009 school year.

"I was very proud to be able to second the motion that authorized this budget," says Orléans-Cumberland trustee Stephen Blais. "Everyone agrees that our classrooms need more money, not less. By adding $2 million in classroom spending our board is putting our students first."

Operating reserves will be maintained at $6.1 million, with the board hoping to add an extra $700,000 to the reserve account at the end of the fiscal year.

"Other levels of government continually spend their reserves and then when it starts to rain (or snow) they scramble to find the money necessary to address the problem," Blais continues. "By maintaining our reserves we are ensuring that our classrooms won't suffer in the event of unexpected expenses."

Next year's budget will also see the launch of several new initiatives aimed to further enhance student success, including 18 more teachers to address elementary class sizes, an additional five resource teachers and eight educational assistants at the elementary level, one new consultant to support the arts program and $420,000 in funding for extra Grade 7 to 12 mathematics and science textbooks.