Pembina Hills has been responding to information provided by the province during the school year. In late fall, the board received the funding details for the current school year; 2019-2020. Over the past few weeks, Pembina Hills also received details from Alberta Education about a new funding framework for the next school year; 2020-2021.

Most recently, the board was advised that for the remainder of the school year, instructional funding would be reduced by 14% and transportation funding would be reduced by 51%. This comes to a total of over $1.15 million. In response to these realities, the board and administration made some difficult decisions.

First Steps

On November 29th, the board released a Joint Statement describing their first steps to reduce costs. Over the fall and winter, the board and system administration reduced staff assigned to the centralized services team.

• Three certificated specialist positions were eliminated
• The roles of Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and Coordinator of Payroll and Budgeting were combined
• The duties of the vacant Transportation Director were reassigned internally

COVID-19 Layoffs

Effective April 17th, about 270 support staff from the following employee groups will be temporarily laid off:

• Administrative Assistants
• Community School Office Staff
• CUPE Bus Drivers
• Division Courier
• Media Centre Staff
• Non-Union Bus Drivers
• Program Assistants and Program Assistant Mentors
• School Librarians

Reductions to School Administration

Beginning in September, we will also eliminate six (6) Associate Principal positions. The school administrator assignments for 2020-2021 are:

Barrhead Composite High School: Principal – Darcie Eamor, Associate Principal – Greg Ferguson, Special Education Coordinator – Amber McGinn

École Barrhead Elementary School: Principal – Dale Bujold, Associate Principal – Dale Erickson, Special Education Coordinator – VACANT

Busby School: Principal – Angie Bachand

Colony Schools: Principal – Prakash Raju

Dunstable School: Principal – Tammy Tkachuk

Eleanor Hall School: Principal – Nadine Marchand, Special Education Coordinator – Melanie Buckley

Early Learning: Principal – Kelly Ferguson

Fort Assiniboine School: Principal – Lorna Hiemstra

Neerlandia Public Christian School: Principal – Brett Seatter

Pembina North Community School: Principal – Raime Drake

R. F. Staples Secondary School: Principal – Wayne Rufiange, Associate Principal – Perry Kulmatyski, Special Education Coordinator – Teri Egert

Swan Hills School: Principal – Slade Sekulich, Associate Principal – Sheila Gardiner

École Westlock Elementary School: Principal – Pierre Ouimet, Associate Principal – Amber Monteath

Next Steps

Meetings will continue throughout April to analyze the new funding framework as part of planning and strategizing for the 2020-2021 school year. While further changes may be necessary, be assured that the educational experience of our students will remain a top priority.

The 2020-2021 budget will be presented for ratification at the May 27th public board meeting.