Education - FSD approves deficit budget
By
John Barlow
Editor
The Foothills School Division (FSD) has approved a new budget with
a deficit of $183,000.
At its regular board of trustees meeting last Wednesday, the board
approved the shadow budget which had to be revamped as a result of
lower than anticipated student enrollment.
Board chair Jerry Muelaner admitted it was a difficult decision to
approve a deficit budget, but that the board had little choice.
“We were almost $900,000 over budget and we found about $700,000
to cut,” explained Muelaner. “That does not mean there
was that (much) fat to be found, but this will be a year with no flexibility.”
The FSD budget now includes expenditures of $49,814,000 and revenues
of $49,531,000.
Although the division recently approved a two-per cent pay hike for
its teachers, Muelaner said that was not the issue.
The issue for the division was the fact their enrollment estimates
were high by 191 students. The division receives funding for the province
on a per student basis of about $5,000 per student.
In the spring, the division set its budget based on its enrollment
projections.
However, once actual enrollment was established in September, the
actual numbers fell well short of predictions meaning the division
was approximately $900,000 over budget.
FSD superintendent Jim McLellan said the budget crunch in September
has forced the division to rethink how it establishes its budget in
the spring.
He said next spring they will cut way back on their projections and
put money back in the budget in the fall.
However, the recent funding crisis had to be dealt with this year
and Muelaner said cuts were made across the board.
“Every department had to look inward,” he said. “To
make this work it had to be a team effort.”
The one positive with the cuts, said Muelaner, is that it was done
without laying off staff although some contracts were scaled back.
“We could have summarily laid off staff, but we did not want
to do that,” said the board chair.
The division did make significant cuts to the “mini budgets”
which are allocated to each school.
“I have heard that those cuts have already had an impact on
our schools,” he said. “We would really like to replace
those funds as soon as we can.”
Additional cuts were made to funding for national and international
conferences and seminars which were cancelled entirely.
Muelaner said even a pay-roll initiative for computer purchases was
shelved. He said FSD staff could purchase a computer through the division
and the cost would be deducted from payroll.
“We don’t have the money to buy the computers,”
he said.
Muelaner said the secondary concern of the school division is why
these students are leaving the division.
He said some had obviously moved, but others may have chosen to move
to Christ the Redeemer School Division or home schooling.
“There is a question, ‘What are we doing wrong that these
kids are leaving?’”. 
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Lest
We Forget
War veterans from the Turner Valley
Legion lower their flags in memory of those who lost their lives
during war at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Turner Valley School
on Thursday.
photo by Pamela Roth |
Okotoks - Divisions justify user fees
By John Barlow
editor
Representatives from the two school divisions justified
the reasons for increased user fees at school-owned facilities at
a meeting with local sports organizations in Okotoks last Thursday
night.
At a meeting at the Okotoks Fire Hall Christ the Redeemer School
Division (CRSD) assistant superintendent Michael O’Brien and
Foothills School Division (FSD) superintendent Jim McLellan told
representatives from several Okotoks sports organizations that the
increased fees to rent school facilities were warranted due to increased
operating and maintenance costs.
“We have had a lot of negative feedback regarding the fees
and we wanted that to be addressed,” said McLellan. “But
fair and reasonable access does not mean free access. This is a
real funding issue for us.”
The sports organizations argued that the increased user fees ($23.54
per hour for youth non-profit) are simply too costly for the community
groups.
Some community groups saw their rental fees increase by 2,000 per
cent and had to increase registration fees accordingly.
The new user fees were established in September through a joint
indoor facilities user agreement between the Town of Okotoks, CRSD
and FSD. According to the school divisions the user fees were increased
as a means of recovering utility and maintenance costs.
However, the user groups lobbied the school divisions at Thursday’s
meeting to devise other options rather than depend on the user groups
to bear the brunt of the rental fees.
“I’ll sweep and mop for $23.54,” said Bonnie Cantelon,
of Okotoks Community Basketball.
Kathryn Davenport, whose daughter plays indoor soccer, said she
is concerned many children will drop out of these programs because
the registration fees will become unaffordable.
“This is not equal access, this is not equal anything,”
said Davenport. “What do we say to those families that cannot
afford it? What will happen to those kids?”
McLellan admitted he sympathized with the user groups, but added
the school divisions had little choice.
“This is the crux of the issue,” said McLellan. “It
is great to use the facilities, and (the user groups) have made
great arguments, but it just can’t cost us any money. What
happens with soccer is not our business. We just can’t afford
to pay for the users — we don’t have the money.”
FSD trustee added, “I feel for you (the users), but we are
not even covering our costs. The school division just can’t
keep doing it (subsidizing user groups).”
O’Brien said in addition to increased maintenance costs, CRSD
school division hired facility supervisors for the schools to ensure
the security of the facilities.
He said due to insurance costs the school division deemed it imperative
to hire a supervisor at about $13 per hour who will oversee the
facilities when community groups use the buildings. He said the
user fees also help pay for that supervisor.
Despite the explanations from the school division representatives,
those in attendance were not satisfied.
“Sometime (the school divisions) will have to justify this
decision to the community,” said karate instructor Chris Ashby.
“We can’t be the solution. If we are we are a band-aid
solution if we are their cost recovery.”
Jill Pearson, also of community basketball, said she was not satisfied
with the reasons behind the increased user fees and has organized
a group to investigate the possibility of building a community gymnasium.
Other said they were not opposed with an increase in user fees,
but were unhappy with how the fees were introduced. They said they
would support an increase if it was introduced in increments and
if they were given better notice.
The school divisions have tentatively scheduled a public meeting
for Nov. 20 at Foothills Composite High School, but whether or not
the meeting proceeds has not been confirmed. O’Brien and McLellan
said the meeting on Nov. 20 will proceed only if it is deemed to
be productive.
However, O’Brien said he did hear some reasonable options
from the user groups saying, “I learned a lot tonight.”
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In this issue...
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SCAMMED
Local family
victimized
See News
HOT PROPERTY
Okotoks real estate remains strong
See News
MOVIN’
ON
Falcons advance to Tier II semi-final
See Sports
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