(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Budget Cuts

Sask. Rivers to reduce staffing to handle provincial grant losses

Jun 18, 2021 | 5:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division (SRPSD) has had to make cuts to staff and teachers and use money from their reserve funds to help balance the budget for next school year. It follows cuts in funding from the province.

SRPSD board chair Barry Hollick feels like they are in a good position moving forward, and students will still receive a good education. However, the P.A. Teachers Association and opposition NDP have criticized the moves citing now is not the time to make cuts to education, in light of the impacts of the pandemic.

“We were faced with a reduction in our operating grants of $1.7 million from the provincial government,” Hollick told paNOW. “That required us to put some cuts in place and draw upon our financial reserves to make up for some of that lost revenue.”

There will be about 25 fewer teachers in the school division next year. Some of the losses will include teachers that retire, resign, or move to another division.

“None of our permanently contracted staff will be losing their jobs. But it does mean a smaller staff for Sask. Rivers next year,” Hollick said. “Through careful spending over the years we have managed to put aside some reserves. We are taking $950,000 out of reserves. If we did not do that, we certainly would have faced laying off staff.

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“By taking the money out, we have prevented that. We are reducing positions, but through attrition we are not going to be laying off staff.”

The school division is hoping there will be an increase in enrolment from last year, increasing provincial grants they will receive.

“The one bright spot for us, is if students increase our enrolment projects there is a possibility of getting additional grants from the provincial government,” Hollick said. “Those total around $6,500 per student, so if we get substantial enrolment increases then we do stand to get more money and we can add some extra staff at that time.

“From all our elementary to high schools there will be a reduction in staff, so the classrooms will be marginally larger. But if we get extra students in, we can hopefully add more staff and deal with it that way,” he added.

Teachers’ Association response

Meanwhile the Prince Albert and Area Teachers’ Association has heard widespread criticism of the move to reduce the teacher and staff complement.

President Ted Zurakowski said he’s heard many negative comments about the budget cuts from members of the community.

“Teachers and parents are certainly concerned about these recent cuts,” Zurakowski said. “Now, parents more than ever know what it’s like to have students at home, involved in the learning process. It’s very frustrating the response is to make continued cuts to teaching positions.

“When we see where money is being spent, teachers believe, and more parents are starting to see that education dollars should be spent on education. Keep those education dollars in the classroom.”

NDP blasts cuts

The opposition NDP has strongly condemned the funding cuts to school districts across the province, especially after months of disruption caused by the pandemic.

“The Premier campaigned on two main promises: balancing the budget and not cutting services,” NDP leader Ryan Meili said in a media release. “He lied about both. How can the Premier justify borrowing money and not giving a dime to schools? Kids will return this fall after already sacrificing a year and a half of quality classroom time to COVID-19. How is this acceptable?”

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8