The Lethbridge School Division has released its preliminary budget for the 2020-21 school year and its roster will be slimmer after dozens of jobs are cut.

More than 500 employees in the Pembina Trails division are being temporarily laid off, including 472 educational assistants, 32 library technicians and 24 bus drivers.

The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division says educational assistants, including early learning educational assistants and early learning speech language assistants will be terminated for the time being. 

Premier Jason Kenney offered new details on Wednesday about why his government announced temporary layoffs in Alberta's education system over the weekend.

The Alberta government announced Saturday it would be redirecting approximately $128 million in K-12 funding into the COVID-19 response.

Angela Lawson, one of the school district's councillors, said she fully supports the proposed inclusive education model but noted that "there wasn't funding attached" in the budget.

Gregg Ingersoll, the district's superintendent, says they're short about 60 positions for next year at this point, and aren't sure how to fill the void.

CUPE Local 8443 says it has ratified a new collective agreement with the Saskatoon Public Schools division.

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4689 and the employer, South East Cornerstone Public School Division, have approved a new two-year collective agreement.