Cuts could be coming as Saskatoon Public Schools division faces $8M budget shortfall

Saskatoon's public school divisionsays itis facing an $8-million deficit heading into the 2021-22 academic year.

The Saskatoon Public Schools board laid out the situation in a letter sent home to parents, warning of cuts ahead that are likely to affect the students.

A spokesperson for Saskatchewan's Ministry of Education has said thatthe public school division was granted an increase of $4.6 million dollars for 2021-22, or 1.9 per cent.

Board chair Colleen MacPherson said all of that money will be required to meet the contractual obligation of a two per cent increase for teachers set out in the new collective agreement.

"What that means is there is no funding for other contractual salary increases we have with other employee groups. There's no funding for the inflationary pressures that we feel," she said, pointing to the rising cost of utilities, transportation and insurance.

"We're also seeing a steadily increasing number of students in our school division who have special needs and require particular programs and support to help them learn."

Saskatoon Public Schools says it is the largest division in the province, with about 2,600 staff and more than 26,000 students.

The division has started a consultation process with staff and parents to find out what programs and aspects of school are important to them,and what might need to be protected. People have until May 3 to submit feedback.

"That is really to look at every single aspect of our operation and try to find efficiencies that will allow us, by the end of June, to present the Ministry of Education with a balanced budget," MacPherson said.

"We have to look at everything. Everything is on the table, and I would imagine that many aspects of our operation will be affected by this."

Looking ahead to sweeping cuts is dreadful,MacPhersonsaid.

"Unfortunately, it's not unexpected, and we're not inexperienced at this. We've had these budget challenges for a number of years now, simply because we're not keeping up with inflation," she said.

"It's extremely difficult to plan and grow as a division when you have absolutely no idea what next year's budget is going to look like."

She said the division wants tostart a broaderconversation with the Ministry of Education "about finding a way to provide sustainable and predictable funding for education in this province."

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said it has not yet received the division's budget submission.

"We have confidence that they will make decisions within their allocated budget to meet local priorities and address the needs of their students and staff," the spokesperson said.