BRSD is facing funding challenges - Tofield · 2019. 12. 11. · BRSD is facing funding challenges...
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BRSD is facing funding challenges Board of Trustees Battle River School Division The Board of Trustees Board Chair: Norm Erickson Vice Chair: Karen Belich Beaver County East: Lyle Albrecht West: Zsuzsanna Hemperger Camrose County North: Karen Belich South: Kendall Severson Flagstaff County East: Laurie Skori West: Jeff Kimball City of Camrose Norm Erickson Val Sims Administration Superintendent: Rita Marler Assistant Supt, Learning: Shan Jorgenson-Adam Assistant Supt, System Supports Natasha Wilm Assistant Supt, Business: Imogene Walsh Last spring, the Bale River School Division Board of Trustees made a budget plan for 2019-2020 that ancipated a drop in funding, based on declining enrollment numbers and messages of cauon from the provincial government. “Rural Alberta is in a me of populaon decline,” explains Board Chair Norm Erickson. “In BRSD, our student numbers are going down. This year we have more students finishing Grade 12 than starng Grade 1, so we knew we had to make a downward adjustment in spending. We did that. But now we’re learning we’ll have other funding losses as well.” The loss is due to a reallocaon of three government grants. Last year BRSD received $3,623,477: Class Size grant ($2,425,522 ) Classroom Improvement Fund grant($790,000) School Fee grant ($407,925) The government is providing one-me transion funding, intended to offset this reallocaon. BRSD is receiving $2,017,000, leaving a shorall of $1,606,477. In addion, to the $1.6 million loss of instruconal funding, the Division’s Plant Operaon and Maintenance funding was reduced by $80,000 due to the enrollment decline. All Alberta school divisions are also facing an unexpected change to insurance costs, as building premiums are increasing by 274 percent. In BRSD, that means an addional expenditure of $700,000. The Board will be considering all aspects of spending and will review its 2019- 2020 budget at the November meeng. Electoral Ward structure to change Last spring the BRSD Board hosted a series of public meengs focused on their electoral ward structure. As a result of those meengs and other delib- eraons, the Board has voted to reduce the number of trustees to align with changing demographics. This change will take place at the me of the next elecon, in the fall of 2021. The Board will finalize details of how the electoral wards will be structured over the next few months. 5402-48A Avenue, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 0L3 780-672-6131; www.brsd.ab.ca Every Student, Every Day, A Success. For more informaon contact Diane Hutchinson, Director of Communicaons Ph. 780-672-6131 ext. 5248; Cell 780-806-6632; [email protected]
Transcript of BRSD is facing funding challenges - Tofield · 2019. 12. 11. · BRSD is facing funding challenges...
BRSD is facing
funding challenges
Board of Trustees Battle River School Division
The Board of Trustees
Board Chair: Norm Erickson
Vice Chair: Karen Belich
Beaver County
East: Lyle Albrecht
West: Zsuzsanna Hemperger
Camrose County
North: Karen Belich
South: Kendall Severson
Flagstaff County
East: Laurie Skori
West: Jeff Kimball
City of Camrose
Norm Erickson
Val Sims
Administration
Superintendent:
Rita Marler
Assistant Supt, Learning:
Shan Jorgenson-Adam
Assistant Supt, System Supports
Natasha Wilm
Assistant Supt, Business:
Imogene Walsh
Last spring, the Battle River School Division Board of
Trustees made a budget plan for 2019-2020 that anticipated
a drop in funding, based on declining enrollment numbers
and messages of caution from the provincial government.
“Rural Alberta is in a time of population decline,” explains Board Chair Norm
Erickson. “In BRSD, our student numbers are going down. This year we have
more students finishing Grade 12 than starting Grade 1, so we knew we had
to make a downward adjustment in spending. We did that. But now we’re
learning we’ll have other funding losses as well.”
The loss is due to a reallocation of three government grants. Last year BRSD
received $3,623,477:
Class Size grant ($2,425,522 )
Classroom Improvement Fund grant($790,000)
School Fee grant ($407,925)
The government is providing one-time transition funding, intended to offset
this reallocation. BRSD is receiving $2,017,000, leaving a shortfall of
$1,606,477.
In addition, to the $1.6 million loss of instructional funding, the Division’s
Plant Operation and Maintenance funding was reduced by $80,000 due to
the enrollment decline.
All Alberta school divisions are also facing an unexpected change to insurance
costs, as building premiums are increasing by 274 percent. In BRSD, that
means an additional expenditure of $700,000.
The Board will be considering all aspects of spending and will review its 2019-
2020 budget at the November meeting.
Electoral Ward structure to change
Last spring the BRSD Board hosted a series of public meetings focused on
their electoral ward structure. As a result of those meetings and other delib-
erations, the Board has voted to reduce the number of trustees to align with
changing demographics. This change will take place at the time of the next
election, in the fall of 2021.
The Board will finalize details of how the electoral wards will be structured
over the next few months.
5402-48A Avenue, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 0L3
780-672-6131; www.brsd.ab.ca
Every Student, Every Day, A Success.
For more information contact Diane Hutchinson, Director of Communications
Ph. 780-672-6131 ext. 5248; Cell 780-806-6632; [email protected]
Board of Trustees Battle River School Division
The Board of Trustees
Board Chair: Norm Erickson
Vice Chair: Karen Belich
Beaver County
East: Lyle Albrecht
West: Zsuzsanna Hemperger
Camrose County
North: Karen Belich
South: Kendall Severson
Flagstaff County
East: Laurie Skori
West: Jeff Kimball
City of Camrose
Norm Erickson
Val Sims
Administration
Superintendent:
Rita Marler
Assistant Supt, Learning:
Shan Jorgenson-Adam
Assistant Supt, Systems Support
Natasha Wilm
Assistant Supt, Business:
Imogene Walsh
A partnership that helps students — and hockey players too
Students from Sparling School and representatives of the Camrose Kodiaks
joined the BRSD Board of Trustees meeting on October 24, to talk about how
the partnership between the school and the team builds motivation among
students and team members alike. Players helps students focus on reading,
physical activity and relationship building, while students help players build a
sense of responsibility and positive role modeling.
BRSD matching other divisions in results
The BRSD Board of Trustees reviewed results of the annual provincial Account-
ability Survey on October 24, which indicates that the division is generally in
line with the results of others across Alberta.
High school completion rates remain high and drop-out rates remain low
across Battle River. Both acceptable and excellence level scores on Diploma
Exams are generally increasing in Battle River. Provincial Achievement Test ac-
ceptable standard scores were generally maintained, while the standard of
excellence rates have increased.
Collaboration Day cancelled for this year
Traditionally, BRSD has hosted a Collaboration Day each winter, which brings
Board members together with student representatives, parent representatives,
school and division leaders, to talk about issues relevant to local schools. Alt-
hough the Board believes this to be a worthwhile and important event, eco-
nomic uncertainly has led to the decision to cancel the event for this year.
Share your ideas, help shape the future
The Battle River School Division Board of Trustees is hosting an online public
consultation process and welcomes the input of all stakeholders. Please join
the conversation: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/#282140409
5402-48A Avenue, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 0L3
780-672-6131; www.brsd.ab.ca
For more information contact Diane Hutchinson, Director of Communications
Ph. 780-672-6131 ext. 5248; Cell 780-806-6632; [email protected]
