Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools facing dire financial woes

As for cost drivers related to services, contracts and supplies: between increases to fuel, insurance, bus passes, parts and increased carbon tax, plus reductions to liability insurance and property premiums, there is a projected overall reduction of 19 per cent. That doesn’t include a $700,000 computer refresh expense, however.

“In 2024-2025, we are carefully evaluating provincial funding allocations and our educational mandate. Given the current funding framework and inflationary pressures, we are no longer able to maintain the types of support that have historically been provided in their current form and focus, particularly if they are outside our instructional mandate,” says Board Chair Murray Hollman.

“Our current spending model is no longer sustainable, and significant adjustments must be made to balance the budget and restore both operating and capital reserves to acceptable levels.”

The division notes that overall increases are not being offset by any provincial increase to base funding.

The division does state, however, that it’s at least confident it has a way to meet the reserves requirement.

“The 2023-2024 budget update indicated that the reserves for this period will initially be below the minimum required level,” says Laurel Latka, RDCRS secretary-treasurer. “However, by adding unfunded amortization to the operating reserves, the total will be brought up to meet the minimum requirement.”

In the assumptions report, a number of budget impacts are noted.

Certificated Staffing Changes

Increase in class sizes by 1.0 student in each division
Restructure the Inclusive Learning Teacher (ILT) Model
Review online programming delivery
Remodel Faith Coach Model
Conservatively allocate contingent teachers
Student hours at 950 and 1,000 as per the Alberta Education requirements
Shift embedded collaborative time to full-day PD days.
Review the substitute teacher budget and adjust the model to charge the first 2 days of an absence to the school budget

Non-Certificated Staffing Changes

Remodel Family School Counsellor Program
Review all educational assistants’ allocations
Add 22 bus routes to accommodate new walk limits
Review all Montfort Centre staffing complements and reduce when appropriate

Benefits

12% increase in dental premiums
10.7% increase in extended health benefits
CPP and EI increase budgeted

Services, Contracts and Supplies

Increase the transportation budget to accommodate the new walk limits
Reduce Direct Services Budgets by 10%
Review and reduce program budgets, including at Montfort Center
Continue with paid community placements for PRE-K only if classes are full

The division notes further that there are risks, including that the student population doesn’t increase by the projected two per cent, unknown changes to the collective agreement, uncertainty of how many riders will access buses given new walk limits, subsequent uncertainty with transportation revenue, the ability to hire up to 22 new bus drivers and spares to accommodate new walk limits, and other inflationary costs.

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, the Ministry of Education says it’s been in contact with RDCRS about its projected deficit.

It notes RDCRS is estimated to see an increase in operational funding to the tune of $2 million for next school year.

“School boards across the country are seeing unprecedented enrolment growth due to immigration and this is not unique to Alberta. We are committed to supporting school boards throughout the pressure of this growth and other factors by investing an all-time high $9.3 billion into our education system through Budget 2024. This includes more than $1.2 billion to address enrolment growth over the next three years,” says Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides in a statement to rdnewsNOW.

“We want as much funding as possible going into classrooms to benefit student learning and supports they need to provide a safe, world-class education for their students. We are working closely with school jurisdictions to ensure operating reserves are used appropriately to support students and local needs.”

Meantime, Sara Lambert, president, Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Local 80 (RDCRS) is concerned about the impacts of this budget on students and staff.

“Obviously when there’s a deficit, it will affect students because their supports will decrease and class sizes will increase. That’s concerning as an educator,” says Lambert. “As for teachers, it generally makes our job much more challenging because there are more students in the classroom and less adults. Consequently, kids suffer.”

At the end of the day, she says, it comes down to supporting students.

“We need to have enough staff, programs and services to support those kids, Lambert says. “We have more kids, which means more demands, and less money means less support for those demands.”

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools facing dire financial woes

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