Saskatoon’s public school board says that despite “record” funding from the province this year, the ministry’s allocation to the division doesn’t make the grade.
In a letter to parents on Thursday, Board Chair Kim Stranden and Director of Education Shane Skjerven said the $20.2 million increase to their operating grant announced in last month’s provincial budget won’t account for years of accelerated enrollment growth and rising inflation costs.
“This increase may seem significant, and it is; However, when factoring in an anticipated enrollment increase of 700 students, rising costs due to inflation and the continued increase in students requiring additional support, there is minimal room for further supports, programs and services for students,” the two administrators wrote.
“In recent years, chronic underfunding has resulted in significant organizational reductions.”
As the school board works to finalize its budget for the next school year, the two administrators say they first want to let their stakeholders know about the current “budget realities, the reduction we have made in recent years and the continued chronic underfunding we receive in the Supports for Learning category of the provincial funding formula.”
Saskatoon Public Schools also released a budget information document on Thursday illustrating where they’re seeing the greatest increase in costs, including a $3 million growth in salaries expenses to cover new teachers hired due to enrollment growth and a $2 million increase to cover inflationary costs.
In response to the concerns, the Ministry of Education continued to report the “record increase” of 8.8 per cent in school division funding in this year’s budget.
This is the largest increase ever in school operating funding in Saskatchewan and includes $35 million to continue to support our province’s growing enrollment,” a ministry spokesperson told CTV News in an emailed statement on Friday.
The ministry claims the $35 million it contributed for enrollment growth surpassed the projections it received from the divisions for the upcoming school year.
It also pointed to the multi-year funding for classroom supports negotiated with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association earlier this year and its $900,000 commitment to Saskatoon public and Catholic schools for its specialized support classroom pilot project this year.
Ultimately, the ministry says it’s up to the school divisions to work with what they have.
“School divisions have the responsibility to make staffing and programming decisions within their allocated budget to meet local priorities and address the needs of their students and staff.”
Stranden and Skjerven are still holding out hope for more funds, and they’re calling on parents and caregivers for support.
“We need your help. Make your voice heard and speak to your local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).”
