We got as close to the wall as we could. Now we’re leaning against the wall
explained the vice-president of the CSCN, Étienne Alary, during the presentation of the budget to the school board.
Le CSCN projects an operating deficit of $2.5 million for the next school year. However, it has less than $1.7 million in reserves. There is therefore a shortfall of $840,530.
The council has entered into discussions with the Ministry of Education to find a solution.
The increase in spending on CSCN can be explained in part by the addition of certain grade levels in the Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif and La Découverte schools.
The costs associated with school transport have also exploded due to the price of gasoline, insurance and the shortage of drivers. They would increase by 1.5 million dollars compared to last year, according to the projections of the CSCNeven if there will only be 4 new buses.
The Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord had $3.5 million in reserve at the start of the 2020-2021 year. However, it has had to use some of it over the past two years to balance its budgets. The reserves will now be dry.
Le CSCN declined Radio-Canada’s interview request, citing ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Education.
FrancoSud will be in the same situation in a year or two
The FrancoSud council is also seeing its reserves melt visibly. These are currently a little less than 3 million dollars, but he will have to dip 1.5 million to balance his 2022-2023 budget.
It’s an unbearable pace. If we have to draw on our reserves every year, at some point we won’t have any more and that’s for soon. Another year or two…
says Marco Bergeron, school counselor and president of FrancoSud.
Most Alberta school boards are running deficit budgets this year, but some have bigger cushions.
Conseil FrancoSud and Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord both mentioned the additional challenges faced by the Francophone education community, including increased transportation needs and per-student costs that are generally higher in small schools.
What we say to the province is that we have been absorbing for years what the province should be funding
said Étienne Alary, during the meeting of the CSCN.
Le CSCN does not plan to cut classroom services despite its financial challenges.
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