The provincial government announced Saturday it would be redirecting approximately $128 million initially slotted for K-12 schools into Alberta’s COVID-19 response, following the cancellation of all in-person classes on March 15.
“It seems like it is a tremendous shock to a lot of people,” said Clark Bosch, board chair of the Lethbridge School Division.
He says they were told in mid-March that funding would remain for the rest of the school year.
Bosch said they were asked to reduce staff by about 14 per cent, but a more specific number will be provided by Tuesday, and they aren’t providing specific instructions on which positions to let go.
“They’re referring the decision-making, as to who is essential and who is not essential, to the school divisions,” he said.
The funding that’s being adjusted would have been used for transportation, substitute teachers and educational assistants, all of which is being reduced while in-person classes remain cancelled, a news release said Saturday.
“COVID-19 has changed both how we provide student learning, and the operational needs of the education system,” a statement from Education Minister Adriana LaGrange stated.
“I want to stress that this is a temporary arrangement as schools focus on at-home learning.”
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