Desks are pictured at Monsignor McCoy High School - file

By Charles Lefebvre

Education

ATA president says they’re looking for signs of classroom support in the budget

Feb 20, 2020 | 5:11 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — With a week to go until the province tables its next budget, the organization which represents teachers in Alberta say they’re concerned about changes to school funding.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association, has been travelling across the province speaking with teachers about their concerns regarding education in the province

“The teachers love their students, they love their classrooms, they love the work that they do,” he said during a break at the Southeastern Alberta Teacher’s Convention. “They’re concerned about erosions to their classrooms, that lack of funding creating larger class sizes, or they’re not able to meet the needs of their students every day.”

Earlier this week, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced changes to how the province funds school divisions. The funding model will see government grants allocated based on an enrolment over a period of three years, according to documents from the province. It would replace the previously yearly enrolment funding.

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According to the province, the new model will no longer require students with disabilities to re-qualify for extra funding each year and will simplify funding for high school aged students.

However, exact numbers for per-student funding have not been revealed. LaGrange says the amounts will be revealed when the budget is tabled February 27.

Schilling says the association is looking for proof of student support in next week’s budget.

“I would like to see funding for growth, full growth, like every student that is new, coming into our schools, has full funding,” he said. “I would like to see them make sure, the government is funding all of the supports students need, and we need to address class size issues.

“And beyond class size issues, the composition of our classes, the diversity of learning and special needs that we have in our classrooms. We need to see that funding be there for those students to make sure that they’re successful.”

Schilling says he will be in Edmonton on February 27 for the budget.

He adds parents should contact their MLAs about their education concerns.