GRANDE PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
2019-2020 Education Budget

Since the release of the 2019-2020 provincial education budget, the Grande Prairie Public School Division administration and the Board of Trustees have been engaged in a detailed review of the impact of the budget.  It is apparent the budget for the current school year, and beyond, will have a profound impact on our ability to maintain current levels of supports and services across all aspects of the Division.  

The provincial education budget for 2019-2020 included two key changes important to the Division: (a) the removal of three key grants totalling $4.4 million for our Division and (b) the addition of a one-time transition grant for the current school year of $1.6 million.  The removal of the Class Size grant and the School Fee Reduction grant was unanticipated, and after the full review, the net impact is a reduction to revenues of approximately 3%, or $3.3 million, retroactive to Sept. 1, 2019.

Addressing the current $3.3 million reduction to revenue presents a significant challenge to our Division.  Typically operating reserves could be used to cover an in-year loss of revenue; however, GPPSD does not have sufficient operating reserves to cover the shortfall.  Trustees and Administration are actively engaging with System Leadership and Alberta Education to address the current situation and planning for 2020-2021 suggests the cumulative impact of the recent budget announcement to the Division will be a $5.1 million gap in funding.

Division Background

Several factors have contributed to the Division's limited reserves:

• Annual budgets maximized the allocation of funds to support students within each budget year.
• Since 2014, GPPSD opened four new schools.  Transition funding for additional staff to support students was allocated to those schools from Division operating reserves. 
• While the cost per student associated with operating the Division has increased each year, grant rates have not kept pace.
• Current and projected student enrollments are trending positively; however, the projected increase in revenues from enrollment growth will not account for the reductions to revenue or inflation.

Looking Forward

While the recent budget announcement has resulted in a change in revenues, there is no change in the Division's priority areas.  Our commitment to supporting our school staff to provide students with optimal learning will continue to guide decision making as we move forward.  The Board of Trustees has directed Senior Administration to undertake a broad review of operations in the Division to support planning to address the projected decrease in Division revenues.  As plans are developed, for both the short- and longer-term, the impact on the level of supports and services in our schools will be communicated with stakeholders.