Skip to content

SPERD dips into reserves to make up deficit budget

St. Paul Education Regional Division will be dipping into its reserves to fund a deficit budget for the 2016-17 school year.

St. Paul Education Regional Division will be dipping into its reserves to fund a deficit budget for the 2016-17 school year.

Due in part to enrolment decline over the past couple of years, a nine full-time teacher reduction would be warranted, but the division has decided to hold the reduction at just four and a half full-time positions.

“The prolonged economic slowdown has impacted enrolment throughout St. Paul Education,” said SPERD board chair Heather Starosielski, following last week’s regular board meeting where the budget was approved.

“The division decided to offset some of the deficit by utilizing reserves. It is our hope that by doing so we will have low impact felt in the classroom, keep staff adjustments to a minimum, and maintain program supports.”

Enrolment projections peg the number of students enrolling in SPERD schools in 2016-17 at 3,998 students. This number is down 47 students from 2015-16, and down 179 from 2014-15.

Reserve funds will be used to make up for the four and a half full-time teacher positions that aren’t being cut, according to information presented at Wednesday’s board meeting.

The actual number of students enrolled come September could also prove to be even lower than projected, although that number is always a little unpredictable. And with a few schools not set to reopen in Fort McMurray by September, it adds to the uncertainty, since there are some Fort McMurray students enrolled in SPERD schools right now.

Although four and a half full-time teaching positions will be removed, there will be four support staff added, bringing the total number of support staff to 249. The total number of teachers within SPERD is 262.25.

“The board is optimistic that the economy can perhaps rebound in the coming year, and we will see an increase in enrolment from projections,” says Starosielski, adding, “There are additional upcoming uncertainties in budget 2016-17 such as the implementation of the carbon tax, collective bargaining, fuel prices, and Educational Service Agreements.”

Total revenue for the 2016-17 budget is set at $56.2 million, while expenses are projected to be $56.9 million. Along with seeing a deficit in the “instruction” category, a $53,338 deficit is also projected in “busing.” Facilities will run a $157,324 surplus, and administration will also run a $10,227 surplus.

The main budget challenge is “dealing with $1.4 million less revenue due to enrolment decline over the past two years, which ahs necessitated corresponding staffing adjustments,” says the information handed out on Wednesday.

Instruction takes up 77 per cent of the total SPERD budget. Facilities equal 13 per cent, transportation is pegged at six per cent, and administration at four per cent.

Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne noted during the board’s meeting that the carbon tax “will have an impact” on the budget, since it will affect the price of natural gas and gasoline.

“There are quite a few unknowns at this time of the year,” he added.

Budget priorities were also listed in the information handed out. With the first priority being student supports, inclusive supports for all learners, and counseling supports in all schools. The second priority is to continue to have below average class sizes. And the third priority is to use reserves to limit cuts.


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks