New funding model for Saskatchewan’s school divisions looks to be delayed another year

It was hoped this upcoming fiscal year would see a new funding model for Saskatchewan's school divisions, but it appears that will be delayed by another twelve months.

For the last two years work has been underway behind the scenes to find a new way to pay for education in Saskatchewan.

But Minister Donna Harpauer confirms the proposed system has raised some inconsistencies in the amount of dollars allocated to each division.

“It would be a 15 to 18 per cent increase in some school divisions and a decrease to others by the same amount,” said Harpauer.

Harpauer insists the right funding model has been selected by the committee that's been working on this, but it appears the percentages applied are wrong.

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“If you think of it like a pie and you have certain percentages dedicated to different areas, I believes those percentages are perhaps what's been miscalculated,” said Harpauer.

Saskatchewan School Boards Association President Sandi-Urban Hall is disappointed in the delay but wants to see it done right the first time.

“If there are going to be those significant issues I guess it is best that we wait.”

But she wants to make sure the government funds education to an appropriate amount this fiscal year because of what she says are the rising costs for school divisions and the difficult decisions made by school boards in recent years.

Harpauer echoes that she wants to get the new funding model right the first time.

She adds she is working with the stakeholders as the budget is developed for this year.