Message from the Director of Finance and Operations

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The mandate of the KEC Finance Department is to manage the day to day finances of education, assure financial reporting requirements to all stakeholders are met and creation of annual budgets for all Kahnawake Education Center activities within GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Standards), in conjunction with KEC Administration, School Administration and the Kahnawake Combined Schools Committee (KCSC).

The position also entails the supervision of the KEC Human Resources Department, our Information Technology Communications Department, Facilities Management and the shared responsibility of Public Relations/Communications.

To summarize 2010/11 (fiscal year is April to March 31), it was again a very trying year for Kahnawake Education in the area of Finances due to the continued financial/fiscal constraints and budget cuts being imposed by Canada’s Conservative Government, who hold the fiduciary responsibility of funding First Nation Education. For the Fiscal Year 2011/12, Kahnawake Education experienced an approx. $75,000 deficit, which was absorbed by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) as per our financial transfer agreement with them. These budgeting reductions paired with a net enrollment decline at our Elementary Schools (net increase in “outside” elementary schools enrollment) required us to again reduce staff to balance our budgets.

2011/12 has been a particularly challenging year due to a “15% holdback/potential cut of funds pending Treasury Board review” of certain First Nations Education Programs, imposed by the Federal Government at the beginning of the Fiscal Year (April) and was not resolved until the Fall of 2011. As operations of our three schools must go on despite additional financial uncertainties imposed by Canada, which placed an amount of $175,000 in jeopardy, the KEC maintained our original budgets approved by the KCSC and MCK.

As of January 2012, a majority of the projected holdback/cut has been returned (approx. $125,000) and a minimal impact on operations has occurred. Despite this return of federal funding, the KEC is anticipating an approx. $250,000 deficit, of which the MCK has agreed to underwrite at budget time and have worked diligently with KEC Finance to ensure a timely transfer of funds.

In other areas of Operation, the KEC is spearheading a Human Resources service provision review, which includes a Strategic Planning process. For many years, the KEC has operated with minimal staff in Human Resources. With today’s competitive climate to recruit and retain the best staff available, it is acknowledged that our department must grow with the added demands placed on it, resulting in the review that will be conducted with participation of all KEC staff and the three Kahnawake schools. This project will occur in addition to the normal yearly staffing cycle that services approx. 170 staff.

The Information Technologies Department has been in “maintenance mode” of our existing fleet of 325 computers, with no new computer purchases in the last year, again due to budget cuts in the New Path Program that funds the ITC Department, the Mohawk Language Curriculum Center and our elementary Schools Extra Curricular Activities budget. Despite the inability to purchase a new fleet of computers, much time has been spent on further development of the CANO report card/student record program.

Finally, the area of Facilities experienced slight upgrades to the Kateri School and Karonhianonhnha School facilities. The major area of improvement has been at Kahnawake Survival School, where a new fully irrigated, $490,000 approx. multi-purpose sports field (football, soccer, lacrosse and running track) has been completed. It has been used minimally during the Fall of 2011 and will have its Grand Opening in the Spring of 2012 for the entire community.

AANDC (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) have warned towards more cuts to the FNEC (First Nations Education Council) financially managed programs, which therefore cautions the KEC to move forward cautiously for 2012/13. On a brighter note, they have also indicated that the First Nations Student Success Program (FNSSP), which has allowed us to make many curriculum and service improvements in our three schools the past three years, shall be extended for another three year period.

We hope that recent improvement to the curriculum will also increase our Kahnawake Schools enrollment, as many more improvements are planned for 2012/13 and beyond, striving towards our mandate of the best education possible while preserving our Kanien’kehaka language and culture.

Nia:wen,

Louie John Diabo, B.B.A.
Director of Finance and Operations