Mixed reviews for Alberta’s education budget

By KENDALL KING, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 25, 2022.

kking@medicinehatnews.com

The Government of Alberta’s 2022 budget includes an increase of $700 million in new funding for K-12 over a three-year period and $47 million in funding for the expansion of the province’s charter schools and collegiate models.

Local school officials provided mixed reviews of certain budget aspects and said they eagerly await the province’s funding breakdown manual, set to be released in March.

Superintendents from Medicine Hat’s two public school divisions both say they are generally satisfied with the budget.

“I was pleased to see some increases in base grants, particularly transportation and for pupil grants, reflected in the announcement today,” Medicine Hat Public School Division superintendent Mark Davidson told the News.

Dwayne Zarichny, superintendent of Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, echoed Davidson’s thoughts.

“Whenever there’s an indication of increased funding, I would think that’s wonderful news for our jurisdiction,” Zarichny told the News. “We’ll have to wait until the end of March to find out what the impact of the funding announcements will be … however, the first response based on the (announcement) today certainly looks positive.”

Zarichny was pleased to see an increase in funding to public schools and underscored his faith in the public system, in light of the $47-million funding allocated to charter schools and collegiates.

“I remain a huge proponent of public education, because we deliver a quality education to the students we serve, and we serve all students,” Zarichny said. “With respect to our own jurisdiction, we’re one of the highest performing school divisions in the province, meeting or exceeding most of the charter schools.”

Officials with MHPSD also spoke on the increase in funding for charter schools, expressing concern over potential negative consequences it might have on public school operations.

“It’s a huge disappointment to know more money will be taken from (Alberta’s public school system),” MHPSD board chair Catherine Wilson told the News. “The problem is, each time the government cuts our public dollars, it takes away from our classrooms … I can say this on behalf of the whole board – because we’re all on the same page – any time you have decided to allow more funding to go to charter schools, the public schools are now going to suffer.”

Wilson is especially concerned over the message such funding sends about the value of public education.

“Public schools are open to all children … We don’t say no to kids,” Wilson said. “The sad thing about charter schools; they can pick and choose … That’s where it gets really frustrating … I think we have an amazing education system and I’m not sure the message (Premier Jason Kenney) is trying to send by saying, ‘We need charter schools,’ because I actually believe Alberta has a top-notch public education system.”

Teresa DiNinno, superintendent of Medicine Hat’s CAPE School – the city’s lone charter school – disagrees, stating CAPE accepts all students, depending on parents’ level of engagement in the program and whether there are spaces available.

DiNinno was pleased to hear funding has been set aside for charter schools.

“Speaking for myself and my little charter school, we’re very pleased the funding for charter schools is more equitable,” DiNinno told the News.

The Alberta Teacher’s Association condemned charter school funding in a Thursday statement and expressed concern the 2022 provided insufficient resources necessary to support Alberta’s students.

“The ideological expansion of charter schools is privatization of education, which removes funds from the 93 per cent of students who attend public education,” the statement read. “Alberta’s public education system has been of the lowest-funded systems in the country … unfortunately, a 1.7 per cent increase in operational funding will not keep pace with inflation and student population growth.

“(While) the 2022 provincial budget, at first glace, seems to provide an increase to education funding in the province … it is insufficient to provide meaningful repairs to teaching and learning conditions damaged by cuts over recent years. Students deserved more from this budget.”

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