Pembina Hills has been responding to information provided by the province during the school year. In late fall, the board received the funding details for the current school year; 2019-2020. Over the past few weeks, Pembina Hills also received details from Alberta Education about a new funding framework for the next school year; 2020-2021.
Most recently, the board was advised that for the remainder of the school year, instructional funding would be reduced by 14% and transportation funding would be reduced by 51%. This comes to a total of over $1.15 million. In response to these realities, the board and administration made some difficult decisions.
First Steps
On November 29th, the board released a Joint Statement describing their first steps to reduce costs. Over the fall and winter, the board and system administration reduced staff assigned to the centralized services team.
- Three certificated specialist positions were eliminated
- The roles of Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and Coordinator of Payroll and Budgeting were combined
- The duties of the vacant Transportation Director were reassigned internally
COVID-19 Layoffs
Effective April 17th, about 270 support staff from the following employee groups will be temporarily laid off:
- Administrative Assistants
- Community School Office Staff
- CUPE Bus Drivers
- Division Courier
- Media Centre Staff
- Non-Union Bus Drivers
- Program Assistants and Program Assistant Mentors
- School Librarians
Reductions to School Administration
Beginning in September, we will also eliminate five (5) Associate Principal positions. The school administrator assignments for 2020-2021 are:
Barrhead Composite High School: Principal - Darcie Eamor, Associate Principal - Greg Ferguson, Special Education Coordinator - Amber McGinn
École Barrhead Elementary School: Principal - Dale Bujold, Associate Principal - Dale Erickson, Special Education Coordinator - VACANT
Busby School: Principal - Angie Bachand
Colony Schools: Principal - Prakash Raju
Dunstable School: Principal - Tammy Tkachuk
Eleanor Hall School: Principal - Nadine Marchand, Special Education Coordinator - Melanie Buckley
Early Learning: Principal - Kelly Ferguson
Fort Assiniboine School: Principal - Lorna Hiemstra
Neerlandia Public Christian School: Principal - Brett Seatter
Pembina North Community School: Principal - Raime Drake
R. F. Staples Secondary School: Principal - Wayne Rufiange, Associate Principal - Perry Kulmatyski, Special Education Coordinator - Teri Egert
Swan Hills School: Principal - Slade Sekulich, Associate Principal - Sheila Gardiner
École Westlock Elementary School: Principal - Pierre Ouimet, Associate Principal - Amber Monteath
Next Steps
Meetings will continue throughout April to analyze the new funding framework as part of planning and strategizing for the 2020-2021 school year. While further changes may be necessary, be assured that the educational experience of our students will remain a top priority.
The 2020-2021 budget will be presented for ratification at the May 27th public board meeting
