Red Deer Public Schools approves 2024-2025 budget

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As material and supply costs continue to rise, RDPSD says ensuring ongoing maintenance and improvements are made to schools has become a draw on the budget. The division will receive $1.39 million in infrastructure maintenance and renewal funding, which is similar to last year, and $1.77 million in capital maintenance and renewal funding, which is a $711,000 increase from the previous school year.

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Additionally, employee benefit rates have seen a total increase of about $1,067 per employee.

“The rise in costs for the division is because our employees are accessing their benefits, which is a good thing and the reason those benefits are in place,” says Buchanan. “However, that results in increased costs to Red Deer Public Schools. We appreciate the funding that we receive from the provincial government and Alberta Education, but we still face funding challenges.”

Identified risk factors for the approved budget includes an uncertainty of what next year’s student enrolment may be due to the current status of the provincial economy; Alberta recently being designated as a high-risk province due to natural disasters causing insurance rates to increase exponentially; and inflationary cost pressures not being funded.

As part of the budget, RDPSD will maintain staffing levels, continue Student Support Rooms in elementary, K-8 and middle schools, implement a comprehensive bullying prevention program, and develop an extensive Staff Learning Day plan to implement the initiatives and strategies included in the Three-Year Education Plan.

Looking ahead, Superintendent Chad Erickson said the board of trustees will engage with parents and the community surrounding the division’s budget next year.

“We will use the 2024/2025 school year to really engage with our community on how to find the best way forward in regards to our budget,” says Erickson. “Just to continue the status quo, we have to go into reserves. We will also continue to advocate cross-ministry funding so that the dollars meant for education stay in the classroom.”

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