Prairie Spirit School Division lambastes provincial funding

The executive ofthe Prairie Spirit School Division says the province's education funding model is hurting its students and services.

In a letter to parents, division officials claim the formula will leave it with a $6 million shortfall in the coming year.

The division surrounds Saskatoon and has more than 20 schools in its borders. The division stretches to Leask in the north, Hanley in the south, Perdue to the west and Colonsayto the east.

"We will be challenged to maintain our graduation rates, literacy and math achievement results and the success of our First Nations and Metisstudents, all of which are among the highest in the province," the letter said.

"There will be fewer staff working directly in schools with students, less funds to support students with diverse needs, less funds to support extra-curricular activities, less funds for students programs and less funds for building and maintenance needs."

The letter includes the email addresses and phone numbers for the seven MLAsin the division, plus the contact information for the premier and education minister.

In response, cabinet member and MLA for Rosthern-ShellbrookScott Moe wrote,"Since November 2007, the division has received a 27 per cent increase in operating funding, outpacing their enrolment growth, and over $70 million in capital to build new schools and repair existing ones."

However Prairie Spirit administrators saidthe funding increase has still not kept up with rising costs.

Meanwhile, the education minister Don Morgan retorted that "it's troubling when a school division sends a letter like that to the parents without having all of the information that they should have before they do it."

Morgan said the school division should wait to see what's in Wednesday's provincial budget, and for a review of the funding formula coming later this year.

• On mobile? View the letter here.