By Troy Gillard

More budget fallout

Wolf Creek Public Schools loses $1.8M in provincial funding

Nov 5, 2019 | 11:25 AM

Officials with Wolf Creek Public Schools say the division will see a $1.8 million educational funding shortfall as a result of the provincial budget tabled last month.

“We knew that this was going to be a tough budget, but this provincial education budget creates a significant and severe shortfall in funding for Wolf Creek Public Schools,” said Pam Hansen, Board Chair. “We understand the desire for fiscal restraint, but to have this change in funding, and have it come during the school year, is extremely disappointing.”

Alberta Education’s budget removes key grant funding to school divisions that is used to support students and teachers in the classroom, specifically the Classroom Improvement Fund, School Fee Reduction Funding and Class Size Funding. Although there is a new one-time transitional fund in place to replace the loss of these grants, division officials say it doesn’t cover the shortfall that comes with their removal. This represents a $250 per Wolf Creek student reduction.

“The UCP government promised that education funding would be maintained or increased, yet this budget clearly imposes a significant funding reduction to Alberta Public School jurisdictions. Wolf Creek educators, teachers and support staff, who are amongst the best in the province, have struggled to fill the gaps left by inadequate government funding for several years. This budget will make it impossible to do so any longer. Students, our most precious resource, will suffer as a result,” said Michael Doll, Wolf Creek Teachers’ ATA Local #3 President.

Outside of the provincial budget, Wolf Creek Public Schools was hit with an additional $1 million in insurance premium costs after being forced, along with numerous other school divisions, to switch insurers this school year.

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All told, the division faces a $3 million shortfall in its $90 million budget that will be covered by using operational and capital reserves.

WCPS senior administration has also been directed to undertake a complete review of operations to find further efficiencies in preparation for the next provincial budget coming in spring 2020.

(With file from media release)