The Rocky View Schools (RVS) board of trustees approved the budget for the 2015/16 school year during a special board meeting on June 25, concluding a period of uncertainty as a result of an economic downturn in the province.
On May 28, the NDP government reversed the previous Progressive Conservative education budget, which did not fund enrolment growth in the province. The cost to restore funding in the province this year is $103 million.
The NDP also extended the school board budget deadline from May 31 until the end of June.
“I think this has been the most frustrating budget year any of us can recall,” Trustee Bev LaPeare said. “I’m really happy we got back the funding from Alberta Education that we did.
“I’m (also) really happy to see our board has decided to put so much money into the hands of our schools.”
The 2015/16 budget will climb to an estimated $236 million, with a projected $2.7 million deficit, of which $500,000 will be covered by the division’s operating reserves. The division is expecting to see an additional 938 students join RVS schools next year – a number RVS Director of Finance Karyn Golem said was realistic.
“With the economy as it is right now, I think it is a very healthy (estimate),” she said.
Of the total budget, 78.7 per cent will go towards instruction, 11.9 per cent will fund plant operations and maintenance, 6.2 per cent will fund transportation and 3.2 per cent will fund governance and administration.
RVS previously established budget priorities on March 9 while awaiting word from the provincial government on funding.
Among those priorities was a focus on providing services for students with complex and emotional needs. As part of the new budget, RVS will hire the equivalent of 2.4 full-time staff members to meet the priority.
“When I speak to the funding for special needs, that impacts everybody – not just special needs kids,” LaPeare said. “Let’s give everybody the tools they need for success.”
RVS is set to add more than 33 new teachers to elementary and middle schools and more than seven new teachers to high schools.
“It has been an incredibly challenging budget cycle this year,” RVS Board Chair Colleen Munro said. “(But) when you have your eyes on the prize, at least you get to the destination you want.
“I think that even with the change in government the overall financial picture of the Province isn’t particularly rosy. I’m not sure we won’t have some (challenges) next year.”
For more details on the budget, visit rockyview.ab.ca
