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Public school budget attempts to limit frontline impact

Apr 25, 2017 | 2:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division budget has been spread thin as it is forced to grapple with a $3.6 million funding shortfall from the provincial government.

Director of Education Robert Bratvold, believing the division did their best to curb classroom impact, said it was naive to think any cuts would not have a trickle down effect.

“We have done the very best we can to insulate them from that impact,” he said. “Now sure, that may mean there are not fewer teachers in front of kids, but those teachers will not have the same access to support and consultant positions, so that is going to impact their practice.”

Monday, board members approved the divison’s 2017-18 budget. In an effort to mitigate impacts to frontline services, the budget sees cuts blanketed across numerous areas in the division

Significant staffing changes are going to be seen as salaries make up the majority of the division costs. 

Though no jobs have been lost, a reduction of one superintendent position, several coaching and consultant roles, and reduced education assistant and library positions have been achieved through retirements and attrition.

With this brings a concern over an increased workload potentially placed on the backs of educators. Bratvold said he held “tremendous confidence and faith” in those working at the division and “that they will do the very best they can.”

Staffing is not the only sector taking a hit. Technological upgrades and other projects are cancelled. The significant additions to Arthur Pechey School, however, will continue as the division expands the French immersion program. 

“[There were] some projects we wanted to do, but we won’t be able to get to. But we will still sustain our reputation and reality of taking good care of our schools,” he said.

In doing so, the division is forced to dip into its surplus to find roughly $1.25 million to cover costs for buses that have aged beyond their renewable lifespan, something usually covered in operating costs.

Governance and funding allocations for the activities board members perform have not only been reduced by 35 per cent but have been capped, hindering the travel and engagement ability for members and trustees. 

“It is difficult when we know the value of the work that our schools, principals and E.A.s and support staff do…and it doesn’t seem to have been completely recognized by the province,” he said. “However, we also know that the province is in a difficult economic circumstance and financial challenges face them…so we do our best to share a load of that burden, but it is not easy.”

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr