‘Hard decisions’ as Catholic board passes budget

School division’s plan cuts some services but maintains stable classroom loads

The vote was not unanimous, but Saskatoon’s Catholic school board passed a balanced budget for the upcoming school year.

Trustees voted seven to three to pass the $179 million budget — about $1.2 million less than last year’s budget.

The division made several staffing changes for the upcoming school year, including removing or moving the equivalent of 16 full-time employees in centralized supports and administration. The division also reduced services and supports outside its K-12 mandate, including cutting 14 jobs by eliminating the Aboriginal Student Retention worker program.

“As a board, we accept the responsibility of the hard decisions we’ve had to make for our division, but we protest the circumstances that have pushed us into a corner,” board chair Diane Boyko wrote in a news release.

“We would not find ourselves in this position if we were funded adequately to offer the education we believe our students deserve.”

The division was able to maintain “stable classroom loads” while opening 38 more elementary school classrooms by adding seven full-time teachers, shifting resources and reducing costs. Its budget report indicates 43 existing teaching positions will be reassigned to support enrolment growth and six new schools.

The division faced a shortfall of about $9.7 million, the result of a growing student population and increased operating costs. Enrolment is expected to jump by 548 students, while student funding will decline by 3.9 per cent.

This year’s budget deliberations “have been like no other,” Boyko wrote.

“It’s been tremendously difficult on staff who passionately serve students and families. They always see that more can be done to help students and ensure success.”

The division has reduced its governance spending by 32 per cent, cut bus services to save about $1 million, and trimmed budget lines in various centralized departments, such as learning service coordinators.

The number of office co-ordinator and caretaker allocations will increase by the equivalent of five full-time positions, but with the opening of six new schools next year, their operation would usually require about 19 additional full-time equivalents in these positions, according to the school division.