Written By: Bob McIntyre
It’s an estimate, but the public school board that covers the territory from Latchford to Hearst figures it’s losing four-million dollars in provincial funding for the next school year.
DSB One chair Bob Brush says his board is still waiting for more details out of last week’s provincial budget.
That estimate consists of $1.7-million in grants that end in August and won’t be back, and $2,3- million due to class size adjustments.
While the impact on staffing levels aren’t known yet, Brush worries about the 22 so-called “coaches” – teachers who work with other teachers and students in literacy, numeracy, technology and indigenous learning.
“We need, in fairness, to be able to estimate our staffing, especially at the secondary level,” Brush explains, “because you build a timetable based on your staffing. I mean it’s going to get done, but it gives you an uneasy feeling when you don’t have the information you need.”
Brush hopes that information arrives in late April or early May.
“We’re committed to offering innovative learning opportunities,” he assures stakeholders. “We’re going to do what’s best for students and student well-being and we’ll make the best of it, but it’s not going to be the same as it has been in the past. But we’ll be fine.”
