It appears area schools are pleased with the budget released by the Alberta government.
The government dropped its budget on October 27. While Alberta is facing a crunch in light of the resource prices, the budget wasn’t shy about spending. One of the priorities outlined was the stabilization of the public service. This includes schools.
“We didn’t have any surprises in the budget,” said Golden Hills School Division superintendent Bevan Daverne. “I think the government has followed through on a number of promises in their campaign.”
Some of these included restoring funding for enrolment growth. They also followed through in honoring the provincially negotiated bargaining agreements with teachers.
“It is a budget we had expected based on the campaign in the province, so it is one we can certainly work with and we are appreciative of the support from the government on those fronts,” he said.
Golden Hills School Division saw an increase of 3.3 per cent, or $2,064,000 in projected operational funding for 2015-2016. Christ the Redeemer School Division saw a 3.4 per cent increase to its projected operations funding, or another $2,984,000. Prairie Land Regional School Division saw an increase of $112,000, or 0.5 per cent
These amounts are projected based on student enrollment and the courses taken by high school students.
Beyond operations, Daverne says they are seeing support for their construction and modernization projects, including the new East Wheatland School currently under construction.
“We also feel very good about the support from the province for the projects we have underway and are planning,” he said. “We are excited about the impact those projects are going to have in the areas we have enrollment growth.
The Division broke ground on the East Wheatland School in June of 2014, and progress has been steady. Daverne said the foundation is all in and the gymnasium walls are being erected. Work to other areas of the school is underway. They are still projecting a September 2016 opening.
“We are really looking forward to new schools and our modernizations and the school in East Wheatland. Those are solving problems, longstanding problems, we have had in those areas,” he said.
