Calgary area schools in a pinch with funding rolled back in Alberta budget

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Schools in the Calgary area are going to feel the pinch from the provincial budget.

The Rocky View School Division says it will have to cut $10 million from its current school year to deal with changes in the provincial grant it receives.

Board Chair Fiona Gilbert says the board is disheartened–educators were looking forward to a more generous budget.

READ MORE: Alberta budget promises balance amid some cuts over the next four years

“We anticipated a provincial budget that included additional monies for enrolment growth, as assured by government on many occasions. While we received funding for new students from one hand, the other hand is taking even more money away from RVS,” she said in a release.

“Having already cut $2.7 million in classroom improvement funding from the budget last spring, our board will now need to find a significant amount of money, mid-year, to address grant changes made by government.”

The associate superintendent of business and operations says staff had been asked to find inefficiencies, but most of the money goes to paying teachers.

READ MORE: Teachers asked to ‘do more with less’ in provincial budget says ATA

“Given that almost 76 per cent of our $275 million budget is allocated to salaries and benefits, service levels will decrease and class sizes will be impacted,” said Larry Paul.

He added that over the next few weeks staff will be going back over the budget review reexamine revenue sources and expenses, and the board is asking parents and students to be patient while it adjusts its budget.

The Calgary Board of Education says it’s still working through the details of the provincial budget to determine the overall impact.