Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 (BGRD) educators are done waiting for this year’s provincial budget. With the release of the budget on October 27, 2015, the Alberta Government confirmed it will invest in Education. This was a relief for the Board of Education and Administrators who relied on promises made by the government, after the spring election, in order to strategically plan for the school year. As a result of the budget, the resources are now in place to continue on with the blueprint designed earlier this year for BGRD and to provide teachers and services for 10,500 plus students in the Division.
The budget fulfills the NDP’s promise to fully fund new enrolment growth over the next three years. Funding for enrolment growth was a significant issue for the Division, as it sees substantial growth on an annual basis. “We are pleased the Alberta Government invested in growth, as we experienced a 4.4% increase in our student numbers this year,” said Johnette Lemke, Board Chair, Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 Board of Education. “That basically equates to adding approximately 450 students per year or a school of students per year to our Division. Without enrolment growth funding, we would be struggling to find a solution as to how we would possibly staff enough teachers to support all the students we have, especially in a new school.”
The Alberta Government funding also honours the final year of the four-year teacher agreement with the Alberta Teachers’ Association – which includes a two per cent increase in teacher compensation costs and a one per cent lump sum payment to teachers in December 2015.
“As a growing Division, we are pleased to hear capital projects will continue to be funded. We need schools to ensure our students are not being overcrowded as a result of our enrolment growth. We also have aging schools that need our attention,” stated Lorna Misselbrook, Vice-Chair, Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 Board of Education. “Just look at the projects completed, the projects ongoing, and the projects to be done in our Division. The growth hasn’t stopped.” BGRD recently opened École Dansereau Meadows School (Beaumont) in 2014; West Haven Public School (Leduc) is expected to open September 2016; École Champs Vallée School (Beaumont) is being designed and anticipated for September 2017; Calmar Secondary School modernization has begun; modernization planning of École J.E. Lapointe School (Beaumont) is underway; and eventually BGRD will need to look at expanding its High School in Beaumont, Alberta.
With the recent funding announcements, the Board of Education and Administrators at BGRD are staying tuned for further updates. Additional funding could help address some of the issues of overburdening parents with transportation and school fees, classroom complexities including special needs, and the need to support student well-being. “We are interested to see how the additional funding for other programs will roll out in 2016 – 17. The promise of funding for inclusive education, school fee reductions ($45 million) and school nutrition ($20 million) is hopeful, but we will just have to wait and see what the future brings and how those issues will be addressed,” stated Rebecca Eilander, Trustee, Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 Board of Education.
The Board of Education will also keep pushing for support for stable, predictable funding and local autonomy and flexibility when it comes to deciding how to spend it. “Overall, we are pleased with the support Public Education has received in this budget. We will continue to ask for the ability and flexibility to make local funding decisions, strategically, based on community consultation and considerate short and long-term planning. This will ensure we will be able to meet the needs of our students, and to continue to focus on our core values of: Student-Focused Learning; Relationships; Supportive Environment; Passion; and Managing Resources Responsibly To Inspire Success,” said Sandy Koroll, Trustee, Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 Board of Education.
More information on the Education Budget can be found here: Education Budget Fact Card.
News Release: Alberta Budget 2015_What it means for our Division