By Curtis Galbraith

Local Schools

Small deficit in PWSD 2019-20 budget

Jun 27, 2019 | 5:30 AM

Trustees with the Peace Wapiti School Division have approved a deficit budget for the 2019-20 school year.

The shortfall is just under $373,000.

Superintendent Bob Stewart says the provincial election meant school districts did not get budget guidelines from the province in the spring.

They made an estimated budget based on election platforms instead.

“That left us to make assumptions, which we are predicting may result in less funding overall. So, to cover the added costs, which include the results of provincial bargaining and also to maintain most of the programs that we have implemented in recent years, the Board approved an assumed deficit budget which will allow Peace Wapiti to maintain the classrooms, as well as inclusive education, literacy and numeracy interventions, and student mental wellness supports.”

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Stewart says the deficit is point-five percent of its total operating budget and other years have come in under budget.

The new spending plan budget also calls for taking $780,281 out of reserve funds to cover transportation costs.

Stewart says transportation is an ongoing problem for large, rural districts.

“Currently, we have 104 routes and we put on over 14,000 kilometres every day. This includes some very long bus rides for some students, but our goal is to keep these extra-long bus rides to a minimum, Right now, some of our students get on the bus around 7 a.m. and don’t get home until 5 p.m.”

He adds that means a longer day for school kids than some adults have for a work day.

“(We) therefore try to maintain the routes that we have if that is at all possible. In addition to our routes, we need to maintain our fleet and replace a few buses every year. The cost of buses have gone up for several reasons, one being, for example, the price of steel.”

Stewart says the provincial carbon tax also helped make transportation more expensive. Even with that gone, the federal one is coming in January.