CBE will pull $2.6 million from reserves to address underfunding from the province

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With unprecedented growth, high inflation and increasingly complex classrooms, the Calgary Board of Education will have to draw $2.6 million from reserves to balance next year's budget after another year of underfunding by the province.

As part of this spring's UCP budget, Alberta Education allocated $1.4 billion in operating funds to CBE, the largest school district in western Canada with an expected total enrollment of 147,500 students by this fall.

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But in a report to trustees Tuesday, the administration explained the funding is insufficient and the $2.6 million operating deficit must be covered by the district's operating reserve fund, ensuring a balanced budget as required by law.

According to the report, CBE has seen a historic increase in enrollment, along with migration from other provinces and around the world, amid global unrest in Ukraine and the Middle East since the pandemic.

CBE has enrolled 15,600 students in the past three years and expects an additional 9,000 next year, due to the increasing challenges of children with special needs, more ESL learners and higher maintenance costs as schools fill up.

Trustee Patricia Bolger expressed concern that rapid enrollment growth has created a 92 percent utilization rate, and that utilization could be as high as 98 percent this fall as growth continues.

“Based on previous growth, we will be over 100 percent utilization next school year,” Bolger said.

“What happens when our schools are full and we can't accommodate students for safety reasons.”

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Danny Breton, CBE's superintendent of facilities, explained that schools are approaching 120 percent capacity.

“And what does it look like?” It seems necessary to turn common areas into classroom spaces, but that comes with the bill of diminishing the richness and diversity of programs in our schools because those common spaces are no longer accessible to all.”

Breton added that CBE would have to add additional overcrowded schools and even find other spaces to lease.

To address the growth, CBE says it received an additional $85 million in funding each year, which means it can hire more teachers, educational assistants and other support staff.

But the administration says it's still not enough to address classroom complexity or manage growing class sizes In 2018-19, provincial per-student funding remained flat when considered. increase in acceptance.

“In fact, funding per student has not yet returned to last year's 2018-19 level,” the report said.

“Because per-student funding is used to fund CBE operations, and because those operations are more expensive in 2024-25 than they were in 2018-19, CBE will stretch every dollar even further.

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“As a result, this budget will see a modest increase in average class size across the system. Also, services and supports that address diversity and complexity have not grown at the rate necessary to serve a growing student population at an equivalent level for the 2023-24 school year.”

The report also says that if flat per-pupil funding continues beyond the 2024-25 school year, as expected, “there will be continued upward pressure on average class sizes and downward pressure on the availability of services and supports that address diversity and diversity.” complexity”.

But Alberta Education said it will support K-12 education by addressing student population growth and building new schools as soon as possible, investing up to $1.2 billion to address growth and up to $1.5 billion to support students with specialized learning needs.

“This funding can be used to hire additional teachers and classroom assistants, allowing school authorities to increase classrooms and student numbers, while providing students with the support they need to succeed in the classroom,” said Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.

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But superintendent Susan Vukadinovich said parents have been telling her about the lack of space and resources at the schools.

“I have been interacting with my constituents and hearing from them about the shortfall in funding from the provincial government.

“I know the lack of funding doesn't just affect CBE because I know school boards in Alberta are in a tough spot,” Vukadinovic said, adding that some families are willing to give up traditional programs and services. make up for insufficient funding.

“To that end, I've heard several people tell me what CBE should be doing in times of fiscal constraints, especially getting rid of school libraries in situations where public libraries are within walking distance. get rid of school cafeterias or move to a four-day school week, as other school boards in Alberta are doing to deal with budget deficits.”

Administrators said they regularly reevaluate programs and services each school year.

The CBE budget will go to Alberta Education for final approval in June.

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