School trustee takes aim at Morgan
Prairie Spirit’s concerns fair, Danielson says
A Saskatoon school board trustee is firing back at Saskatchewan Party candidate Don Morgan over comments he made about potential cuts that may result in dozens of teachers losing their jobs.
Morgan said the Prairie Spirit School Division’s announcement of possible cuts prior to a provincial budget is an “unprofessional” move based in politics.
Saskatoon Public Schools trustee Dan Danielson said he feels the minister should not attack school divisions for raising concerns during an election.
“He’s telling the elected boards, really, how they should feel and when they should feel it,” Danielson said.
Prairie Spirit recently announced plans to cut 75 teaching jobs to balance its 2016-17 budget, which faces a $3-million shortfall.
However, Morgan, who served as education minister before the election period began, said the timing is “pure politics.”
Danielson said government funding has not been keeping up with education demands and the issues at Prairie Spirit are the same facing many divisions.
“They’re saying just what I would be saying: that the underfunding of education has caused all kinds of cuts across the province,” he said.
He added later: “We haven’t announced any cuts, but I think like Prairie Spirit, we’re right on the edge where I think that will happen.”
Saskatoon Public Schools chair Ray Morrison said any talk about cuts in his division before the budget is released is speculation.
Morgan said while Prairie Spirit’s board has every right to announce the cuts, it’s problematic that they were revealed before the budget was released and a review of the education funding model was completed.
“We expect that they should act in a mature, responsible matter and for them to come and do that now — in the middle of an election cycle, solely for political purposes — is just wrong,” Morgan said, adding he disagrees with Danielson and Prairie Spirit board chair Larry Pavloff.
Morgan noted some parents expressed safety concerns, as in some cases news of the potential cuts was delivered through channels reserved for emergency measures — an action Prairie Spirit attributed to an administrative mistake at one school.
NDP candidate Trent Wotherspoon called the situation “disgraceful” and said he feels it shows the Sask. Party is more interested in playing politics than working toward a solution.
According to government data, Prairie Spirit grew by about 11.8 per cent between 2009 and 201415, while its funding increased by about 12.4 per cent.
Its funding increased by another 4.2 per cent between 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, school division officials have said the funding has been insufficient.
The board made $4.6 million in cuts for its 2015-16 budget while covering a $2.5-million deficit with reserve funds.
Pavloff said support from Danielson is “encouraging” and if other boards in the province feel they’re not funded “adequately or equitably,” they should voice their concerns since a board carries more clout than a trustee.
Morgan said if the Sask. Party is re-elected, the Ministry of Education will work with Prairie Spirit.
He said the ministry may bring in a third party to review the school division’s books and work with it to find savings.