The Board of Trustees for Wild Rose School Division No. 66 recognizes that these are challenging fiscal times for the Province of Alberta. Accordingly, they applaud the efforts of the Government to honour the terms of Collective Agreements. They also appreciate the focus of the Ministry of Education on protecting front-line teaching positions.

The Board does have serious concerns about the impact of the recently released 2015-2016 Education Budget as it:

• Will not provide funding to address any growth in student numbers

• Includes funding reductions that significantly erode supports for students

• Significantly restricts the ability of local Boards to manage local resources, including reserves, to address local needs

“While this budget may make some sense from a fiscal perspective, it is not a good one for either students or staff,” stated Board Chairperson Mae Tryon.

Based on the figures presented in the budget, WRSD will experience significant reductions in student support funding. For 2015-2016, this will be in the amount of $655,000. This reduction will have a serious negative impact on the supports WRSD can provide for some of its most vulnerable students and will increase stress in the classroom for our teachers.

“Unfortunately, this budget also upsets a four-year planned process of utilizing reserves to buffer the impact of steadily decreasing government funding for the Division,”  stated Tryon.

Since 2010-2011, WRSD has seen a steady decline in the level of funding the Division has received from the government. For the upcoming year, this funding will be $2.7 million less than in 2010. On a year-to-year basis the Board has utilized its reserves to minimize the immediate impact of these reductions in the classroom and on support programming.

“Local Boards have a history of prudent and effective stewardship of resources. We can manage our way through this tough budget as well. To do this, our Boards need to be given back the full freedom and autonomy to manage their resources to best meet local needs,” concludes Tryon.

(For details regarding reductions to the WRSD funding, click here.)