Chinook school division says it's made $10M in cuts since 2015
The Chinook School Division has made over $10 million in cuts since 2015, according to a funding update letter and infographic sent to families and staff on Friday.
In the letter sent by Kim Pridmore, chair of the Chinook Board of Education, it stated that as the division was working through the 2023-2024 budget, it was clear they do not have the financial resources to support students as they have in previous years.
The division reductions include student services, senior administration, board governance, transportation, staffing, maintenance and facilities, technology, as well as curriculum and instruction.
“With that level of cuts, we cannot provide the same level of services and support for students as we did eight years ago. Any future reductions would continue to directly impact students and will not solve year after year of underfunding,” the letter stated.
In addition to the cuts since 2015, the division said they receive $683 less per student than in 2015-2016, and will use over $10 million from reserves to cover the annual deficit over the next three years.
The Chiinook division joins others in the province in publicizing the pressures they are facing as they plan their spending for the coming school year.
While Premier Scott Moe indicated more money could be on the way for schools, no specifics have been announced as divisions forge ahead with budgets that must be prepared well in advance of the next school year.
The letter from the Chinook division stated that by the end of the next school year, the division would have used 65 per cent of that amount to offset “insufficient funding.”
“We project our reserves will run out by the 2025-26 school year, so this will not be sustainable if we continue to be underfunded. Unfortunately, this could lead to even further reductions that would have an impact on every student, school and community.”
Despite an increase in students, the letter stated that Chinook is receiving five per cent less funding over the last seven years.
The Chinook division had 5,910 students enrolled in the 2015-2016 school year and received $85 million in educational funding, according to the letter. For the 2023-24 school year, the division is expected to have 5,964 students and have received $82 million.
The letter stated that as inflation averaged over two per cent per year, goods and services are about 20 per cent more expensive than they were in 2015, referencing the Government of Saskatchewan website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca