Chinook School Division highlights “funding gap” for upcoming school year

by

Tanner Wallace-Scribner

Another school division has shared a bleak look into the future, saying they continue to be “underfunded.”

In a letter to parents and staff, the Chinook School Division, which serves nearly 6,000 students in 61 schools across the southwest portion of the province, gave a funding update.

“As we are working through our 2023-2024 budget, it continues to be apparent that we do not have the financial resources to support students as we have had previously,” the letter reads.

Since 2015, the division says they have had to make over $10 million in reductions and use reserves to offset a lower level of funding from the province. Those reductions impacted transportation, staffing, maintenance, student supports, administration, board governance and facilities.

“With that level of cuts, we cannot provide the same level of services and support for students as we did eight years ago,” the letter said. “Any future reductions would continue to directly impact students and will not solve year after year of underfunding.”

In the 2015-2016 school year, Chinook had 5910 students in the division and received $85 million in educational funding. In the 2023-2024 school year, Chinook expects to have 5964 students in the division and is set to receive $82 million in educational funding. That difference means the division receives $683 less for each student in Chinook than eight years ago.

Chinook said they would use $3.5 million of reserves to offset the insufficient funding. By the end of the next school year, the division will have used 65% of reserves over three years. If things continue, the division expects their reserves will run out by the 2025-26 school year.

“Unfortunately, this could lead to even further reductions that would have an impact on every student, school and community,” the letter said. “While these are very challenging times for our budget, we remain committed to supporting the success, well-being and safety of all students in Chinook.”

Premier Scott Moe has said that more money is on the way for schools, but more specifics have yet to be announced as divisions create budgets for the next school year.

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