Welland trustee Larry Lemelin expressed discontent over the budget at the last board meeting of the school year, stating that there should be some coin being spent towards the improvement of Niagara District Secondary School.

"Very little has been done over years, Lemelin said. "We are giving it (NDSS) the opportunity to reidentify itself.

"It's great time for us to show our commitment that we are grand on the success of the school going forward."

On June 17, trustees voted to keep NDSS open with conditions: the school must have an average 350 enrolment by the end of October 2009 or face closure by August 2010. The decision was made after a narrow vote of 6-5 by trustees.

St. Catharines trustee Dalton Clark said he was unsure if there was money to fix up NDSS in the 2008-2009 budget.

Plant services controller Doug Durant said no money was set aside for the school because board staff did not know the outcome of the accommodation review when the budget was compiled.

Clark said the final budget has to be submitted to the Province by June 30.

Even if the budget was amended to include money for renovations at NDSS, Clark said it couldn't be anything substantial.

"The work that needs to be done is mechanical and electrical work. It's expensive," Clark said.

"That sort of work would not draw more kids to the school. No one will notice that work."

Clark added that the school is "not too shabby looking" and that a "coat of paint" would get more attention.

Board vice-chair Marcy Heit said it could be possible to get minor funding from other areas of the budget.

Heit said there must be money from within the existing facility renewal budget that can be used.

At Tuesday's meeting, board passed a motion by Niagara-on-the-Lake trustee Lynn Campbell to look into operating a school bus service from Niagara Falls to NDSS for the arts program.

A current bus service exists which shuttles students from a St. Davids pick up area.

Campbell said Niagara Falls students would have to find their own way to get to St. Davids to board the bus.

"Perhaps a central location in Niagara Falls is suitable," Campbell said.

Board staff also introduced the idea of creating a liaison committee consisting of DSBN staff, members of the community, parents and school staff.

The committee will be headed up by superintendent of secondary schools John Stainsby.