Allocating resources to classroom instruction, support for students with complex needs, mental health supports, and literacy and numeracy skill development continues to be a priority for Rocky View Schools (RVS) after the Board of Trustee’s approved the 2019/20 Fall Budget on Nov. 28.
“Although the government’s delayed budget announcement and subsequent funding reductions posed many challenges for our jurisdiction, the 2019/20 Fall Budget preserves services to students by drawing in reserves, reducing education centre spending, adjusting school allocations, and introducing additional bus fees,” said RVS Board Chair Fiona Gilbert.
“As demonstrated through this budget, our board continues to put students first and ensures to provide them with the exceptional education they deserve,” Gilbert added.
The 2019/20 Fall Budget reflects the addition of 923 new RVS students.
With a $278.7 million expenditure, over 77 per cent going towards instruction, over 13 per cent to operations and maintenance, over six per cent to transportation, and over two per cent to governance and administration, said the Director of Finance Karyn Golem.
She added, over 82 per cent will be directed towards schools, with an additional $1 million in school-based reserves being repurposed and $753,000 being held back this fall in anticipation of potential provincial budget cuts.
Following the release of provincial grants, RVS identified a $10 million budget shortfall for the 2019/20 school year caused by the reallocation of the Alberta class size grants, school fee, and transportation.
In order to address the shortfall, RVS will be drawing $4.32 million from central reserves and $1 million from school reserves.
The RVS Board directed administration to address the shortfall by utilizing systems and school reserves, avoiding mid-year staffing reductions, recognizing reductions are likely in 2020/21, and introducing additional student transportation fees to offset the loss of the Transportation Fee Replacement Grant.
RVS preserved $360,000, which will be used for inclusive education to support students’ complex learning needs, and mental health by implementing a full-time teacher and maintenance of positive behaviour specialists that were previously supported through the operating budget.
Although the 2019/20 Fall Budget has presented challenges to the RVS Board of Trustee’s, there is another significant challenge coming.
“In recognition that reserves are not a sustainable resource and the current budget contains a one-time provincial transition grant of $5.1 million, our board acknowledges that significant reductions will be required for the 2020/21 school year,” Gilbert said.
“Our board also awaits a new provincial allocation model to be unveiled; the impact of these reductions is not yet known. However, it will require significant consultation and consideration to ensure the best education for RVS students,” she said.
Adding, “Our board will be reaching out to our learning communities early in 2020 to discuss budget and program priorities moving forward.”
This year, RVS enrolments increased by over three per cent. However, the overall revenue is projected to be $272.7 million, over two per cent lower than presented in the spring, due to the Alberta Education grants that were reduced by class size initiative funding, the elimination of transportation and instruction fee replacement grants, the Classroom Improvement Fund (CIF), and transportation fee replacement grant.
Six million dollars of reserves are currently being used in 2019/20 to help achieve a balanced budget.
