It’s too soon to say exactly how the provincial budget will affect Red Deer Public Schools, says the division’s board of trustees.
“While the big picture of the provincial education budget addresses some of the issues and concerns facing school boards across Alberta, until we receive our specific funding profiles, we will not know the specific impact for Red Deer Public Schools,” the board said in a statement Monday morning.
The detailed funding profiles “tell the true story” and will not be available until the end of March, the board said.
“The general increase in funding of 1 per cent, plus an additional 4.6 per cent for transportation will hopefully allow us to ‘keep up’ given increasing costs jurisdictions are facing,” the board said.
“Red Deer Public has invested significantly in student wellness, so we welcome the government’s investments to support mental health as these needs are very real. With the mandate of education seeming to be ever expanding, it was important to hear a push to get support from other ministries to provide supports that are best addressed within their domain.”
There also continues to be “uncertainty and concern” over implementation of the new curriculum, the board noted.
“The budget included funding support for curriculum implementation. This is significant work that needs to be supported fully by the province with a clear path on where this is going and how it will best meet the needs to best prepare students for their future.
“We do believe that public school education is the best choice for students and our community overall. As a school jurisdiction that welcomes all students, we are increasingly concerned about additional funding for charter and private schools that take students we need and value away from our system.”
READ MORE: Critics say provincial budget doesn’t put students first
The Government of Alberta released its 2022 budget this past week.
The province said the budget includes more than $700 million over the next three years to give students the resources and supports to overcome setbacks due to the pandemic and build their knowledge and skills.
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