CBE blames NDP funding for fee hikes, service cuts

As public school officials blame insufficient provincial funding for higher fees and less staff proposed for next fall, it will be students, they say, who will suffer most, particularly those in alternative programs.

With the Calgary Board of Education set to approve its $1.4-billion budget for 2018-19 this week, trustees are expected to debate a series of service reductions and cuts to administrative jobs to make up for

a $35-million shortfall in provincial funding. At the same time, fees for lunchroom supervision are slated to rise by 3.9 per cent, while transportation costs for students in alternative programs could go up by as much as 4.5 per cent because of rising fuel costs and the provincial carbon tax.

“Alternative programs are so valuable to the system,” said Sarah Bieber, a spokeswoman for the Kids Come First student advocacy group, who has four children attending Spanish-bilingual programs.

“But it’s getting to the point where the only families that can put their kids in these programs are those who can afford the fees, or where there is a stay-at-home parent to drive the kids to school.”

Students in alternative programming were never eligible for rebates through the province’s Act to Reduce School Fees, which only helps students in regular programs and designated schools.

That means students on yellow buses who were paying $335 last year may have to pay as much as $350.

And fees for elementary students requiring lunchroom supervision, which can vary from school to school, could go from $285 to as high as $296 per student.

CBE officials have said the amount of funding received from the province’s fee replacement grant is based on 2015-16 enrolment numbers and is no longer enough to fund growth in service. As well, increased fuel costs and the carbon tax have made busing more expensive.

The district has been doling out $1 million a year for carbon tax since the provincial legislation took effect in January 2016.

Trustee Lisa Davis agrees the fee hikes create unequal access to specialized programs.

“It is alternative programs that are keeping many inner-city schools viable, and they capture a local population,” she said.

“They create a balance in the system, and they prevent overcrowding in suburban schools.”

Overall, the CBE claims funding from the province will cover enrolment growth but not inflationary costs, meaning up to 69 administrative jobs will be cut.

Brad Grundy, the CBE’s chief financial officer, said that could mean a loss to positions in management, facilities and human resources.

But Education Minister David Eggen is adamant the $1.1 billion provided to the local district is enough to ensure classrooms are not affected.

“Given the substantial investment we have made in the Calgary Board of Education, it is my expectation — and that of all Calgarians, for that matter — that the elected board make decisions to balance their budget without impact on front-line staffing levels,” Eggen said.

“Claiming deficits and then banking surpluses is a recurring practise of this school board, and I would encourage them to consider prioritizing classrooms with the $1.1 billion we have provided this year.”

After transportation fees were increased significantly last year, Eggen conducted an internal review of the CBE’s finances.

And while the CBE’s budget document states no problems were discovered, Eggen said the audit revealed premature warnings of budget deficits had been common in recent years.

Of the 663 new teaching jobs announced in the provincial budget in March, the CBE will be able to fund 106 full-time teaching jobs, a small addition to its total of 8,500 teachers within the system. Last year, the CBE welcomed 2,700 new students.

To make up the $35-million shortfall, the CBE is proposing to cut $15 million from administration, reduce capital costs by $3.5 million and take $2.5 million from reserves.

And while another $13 million in grant money is expected for classroom improvements, principals may still be left to struggle with limited budgets to make up for shortfalls in educational assistants, librarians and other support staff, such as custodial workers.

Troy Killam, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 40, which represents 600 custodial staff, has seen a slow deterioration of staff numbers over the past several years.

“The cleaning of schools has changed significantly — we are seeing a huge reduction in service as full-time staff continue to be replaced by part-time staff, and we’re seeing less and less time spent in classrooms and schools.”

Killam says because of overcrowding in many schools, a growing number of students are forced to eat lunch on hallway and gym floors. But those floors are not being cleaned as much as they used to.

“Children should not be eating on these floors … we are worried kids are going to get sick.”

The CBE’s board of trustees will debate and finalize the budget Tuesday.