School board quizzes Alberta politicians on effects of education funding cuts – CP
by ahnationtalk on September 26, 2018470 Views
Source: The Canadian Press
Sep 25, 2018
EDMONTON _ The Edmonton Public School Board has released a report that forecasts how schools would be affected by funding cuts and is sending the results to the province’s main political parties asking for comment.
The report looks at four scenarios including no funding for enrolment growth, a hiring freeze, a three per cent budget cut for the next four years, and a five per cent budget cut for the next four years.
In the last two scenarios the board predicts it could lose funding equal to between 841 and 932 full-time jobs.
United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney says Alberta’s budget needs tightening but his party has not yet released the platform it will run on in the 2019 provincial election.
Kenney says the report has been “solicited” and that he is not aware of anyone proposing five per cent spending cuts.
He says it should be possible to balance Alberta’s budget by 2022 without cutting frontline services.
Michelle Draper, chairwoman of the school board, says she hopes the report will drive home the point to the parties about the implications of education spending cuts.
“I’m really hoping that this opens a dialogue,” she said Tuesday. “That we can meet with the party leaders and talk about education and the importance of investing in it.”
Education Minister David Eggen says the NDP government has made education a top priority.
He cited funding commitments for staff and new or modernized schools, a $50 million reduction in school fees and the implementation of a school nutrition program.
“We’re going to protect our education system as we know that investing in it is one of the most important investments we can make,” he said in a statement.
Draper said the school board hopes for a response from the political parties within six weeks. (CTV Edmonton)
INDEX: LABOUR EDUCATION POLITICS
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