Saskatoon public school division warns of 'difficult decisions' ahead
CTV
Saskatoon's public school division is warning of increased class sizes and fewer resources for students who require more support.
In a letter to parents and caregivers, Saskatoon's public school division is warning of increased class sizes and fewer resources for students who require more support.
"In recent years, we have communicated that chronic underfunding of education has led to significant reductions in our organization," says the letter signed by Saskatoon Public Schools board chair Colleen MacPherson and director of education Shane Skjerven.
"On March 22, the provincial government released its 2023-24 budget. Talk of a significant surplus in the province led to high hopes for an adequate education grant," the letter says.
"This was not the case, and we will consequently be forced to make some very difficult decisions in the coming weeks."
The division said a "less than one per cent increase" in funding is "well short of what is needed to even maintain the status quo."
A 2.5 per cent increase in school funding touted by the government works out to less because the figure included money already distributed to the divisions, according to the division.
The government earmarked $256 million for the school division in its 2023-24 budget.
