Boards say funding woes could soon hit classrooms

Warnings of reduced programs and more students per teacher

Saskatoon’s major school divisions say another year of flat or reduced funding will likely hurt students in the city.

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) — which represents Saskatchewan’s 28 boards — called on the province earlier this week to reverse cuts to education made in the most recent provincial budget, arguing without adequate resources for student growth and inflation, students will face larger class sizes, less programming and have access to fewer supports.

Last year’s budget reduced education funding by 6.7 per cent. Local school divisions say they worked to keep cuts out of the classroom, but that it will be a challenge going forward without restored funding.

Chair Ray Morrison said the public division has already had to make “significant cuts” at its head office and roll back student support services due to last year’s budget.

Another tough year would make it “really difficult for us to not touch the classroom.”

“Certainly, a year with no increase would cause us to be looking at some things we’ve avoided looking at to this point of time,” Morrison said. He said the “stark reality” is divisions are working to serve more students, with higher needs, in a more expensive environment with less money.

Education minister Bronwyn Eyre was not available Thursday, but Premier Brad Wall said cabinet members discussed “inyear supplementary funding” for education at a recent meeting, noting all Sask. Party leadership candidates have talked “about the importance of education funding ” long-term.

An independent board running Saskatoon’s Community Learner’s High School (CLHS), which serves high-risk students, is also dealing with budget challenges. The school saw funding of roughly $145,000 cut in 2016 after it deviated from a 2014 funding arrange-

The CLHS board asked for a renewed investment from government for the 2018-19 school year in a motion at its Jan. 10 meeting. It also advised the ministry the school will close Feb. 10 if funding is not restored, as its reserves are depleted and it’s facing a “lack of financial resources coupled with an unprecedented methamphetamine epidemic.”

In response to SSBA concerns, Education Minister Bronwyn Eyre said Tuesday the government is listening to stakeholders and has been committed to education. Government figures indicate overall education funding has increased by 114 per cent over 10 years, jumping to $2.2 billion in 2017 from $944 million in 2007.

SSBA reports that while funding has increased, money for operations per-student has remained relatively flat for the last six years and was reduced by $440 to roughly $10,088 in 2017-18 from roughly $10,528 in 2016-17.

Wayne Stus, Catholic division vice-chair, said he can’t speculate on the upcoming budget, but the division is still feeling the effects of last year as it had a “demoralizing ” effect on staff.

“At these times, they feel helpless to do the work they see that needs to be done because of the lack of resources,” he said. “It’s not fair to our staff and our administration and the people that have to make those decisions.”

Stus said the division may examine the possibility of asking parents to write MLAs and express their support for education.