CBE faces budget shortfall, cuts and increased fees coming
Posted May 22, 2018 7:00 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A lack of funding means families who send their kids to Calgary Board of Education (CBE) schools may need to fork over more in fees next year.
The CBE board of trustees is set to finalize the 2018-19 budget during a meeting Tuesday.
The board is facing a $35-million shortfall which will likely be made up through service reductions, cuts to administrative jobs and, as mentioned, increased fees.
Lunchroom supervision fees are set to rise 3.9 per cent, while rising fuel costs and the provincial carbon tax mean transportation costs for students in alternative programs could go up 4.5 per cent.
The board is expecting $13-million in grant money for classroom improvements, but there may still be shortfalls when it comes to librarians, educational assistants and even custodial workers.
But looking at the larger picture, the CBE claims provincial funding as a whole will barely cover enrolment growth, let alone inflationary costs, meaning dozens of jobs in facilities and human resources will likely be cut.
