School Board Recap
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
Hussar School
A difficult decision will be made in the coming months by the board and parents of students in junior high at Hussar School.
The school has reported to the board that only four students will be in junior high at the school starting next fall.
“This has occurred before,” said Ron Kenworthy, chair of Golden Hills School Division.
The first step will be to have the chair, vice-chair and superintendent of GHSD go out and discuss with the parents what they would like to see happen. One of the possibilities, said Kenworthy, is to leave the students in one class.
“I think everyone would agree that’s not a very strong option. Program-wise it’s not a sound solution,” said Kenworthy.
Another option would be to send the students to other schools, such as Drumheller, Central Bow Valley or Standard.
Kenworthy said other schools have been looked at and their situation is tolerable right now, but this problem may occur in the future.
“There is a declining enrollment, so the [closure of more grades] is a possibility,” said Kenworthy. “This is hard on the parents, students and staff.”
Teacher’s Salary
The School Board got some good news on March 22 when Education Minister Dave Hancock announced the treasury board would cover the retroactive increase of teacher’s salaries.
The Alberta Annual Weekly Earning Index for teachers was set at 4.82 per cent, but was increased to 5.99 per cent after an arbitrator’s decision.
Teachers will receive a lump sum payment to reflect the change from September to March, and starting April 1, monthly payments will reflect the new rates.
The total amount Golden Hills will receive is $400,000, which is less than 1 per cent of their total budget.
The increase covers only the 2009-2010 budget and an expected 3 per cent increase for next year isn’t covered.
“That’s $1.5 million that we’re not funded for,” said Kenworthy.
He said this uncovered funding, along with the $1.5 million deficit because of declining enrollment, has the school division facing more than $3 million deficit they will have to deal with in the upcoming budget.
“You try your best to make sure programs are not cut,” said Kenworthy.