Saskatoon Public Schools says budget increase won't cover growing enrollment or class complexity
Saskatoon’s public school board says that despite “record” funding from the province this year, the ministry’s allocation to the division doesn’t make the grade.
In a letter to parents on Thursday, Board Chair Kim Stranden and Director of Education Shane Skjerven said the $20.2 million increase to their operating grant announced in last month’s provincial budget won’t account for years of accelerated enrolment growth and rising inflation costs.
“This increase may seem significant, and it is; however, when factoring in an anticipated enrolment increase of 700 students, rising costs due to inflation and the continued increase in students requiring additional support, there is minimal room for further supports, programs and services for students,” the two administrators wrote.
“In recent years, chronic underfunding has resulted in significant organizational reductions.”
As the school board works to finalize its budget for the next school year, the two administrators say they first want to let their stakeholders know about the current “budget realities, the reduction we have made in recent years and the continued chronic underfunding we receive in the Supports for Learning category of the provincial funding formula.”
Saskatoon Public Schools also released a budget information document on Thursday illustrating where they’re seeing the greatest increase in costs, including a $3 million growth in salaries expenses to cover new teachers hired due to enrolment growth and a $2 million increase to cover inflationary costs.
In response to the concerns, the Ministry of Education continued touting the “record increase” of 8.8 per cent in school division funding in this year’s budget.
This is the largest increase ever in school operating funding in Saskatchewan and includes $35 million to continue to support our province’s growing enrolment,” a ministry spokesperson told CTV News in an emailed statement on Friday.
The ministry claims the $35 million it contributed for enrolment growth surpassed the projections it received from the divisions for the upcoming school year.
It also pointed to the multi-year funding for classroom supports negotiated with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association earlier this year and its $900,000 commitment to Saskatoon public and Catholic schools for its specialized support classroom pilot project this year.
Ultimately, the ministry says it’s up to the school divisions to work with what they have.
“School divisions have the responsibility to make staffing and programming decisions within their allocated budget to meet local priorities and address the needs of their students and staff.”
Stranden and Skjerven are still holding out hope for more funds, and they’re calling on parents and caregivers for support.
“We need your help. Make your voice heard and talk to your local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 120 active fires burning across Canada, 30 are 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
BREAKING B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
'Worried he might be carrying a handgun': Legislative Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, claims he was harassed and intimidated
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.