‘It’s good news:’ SSBA on $20M investment to handle rising costs

The president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association says Thursday’s funding announcement from the provincial government was welcome, but the money involved is nowhere near enough.

“Anytime we can see some recognition that there are some substantial cost drivers that the budget did not cover, anytime that happens, it’s good news,” Dr. Shawn Davidson said.

“Is it going to meet all of the demands that school divisions are facing? No. Is it going to help? Yes.”

The government is making a one-time payment of $20 million, to be shared by Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions to help with rising fuel and insurance costs.

Davidson said school divisions found themselves in a pickle this past school year trying to transport students with gas prices north of $2 per litre.

“When gas prices go up that much and there’s no funding associated with those inflationary costs, then school divisions have to operate within the budget that they are provided,” Davidson said.

“In those circumstances, divisions have had to make some difficult choices in order to deal with those fuel costs.”

Davidson said rural areas were hit the hardest by the fuel costs and it’s huge to see some funding follow that heading into the new school year.

The funds also will go towards insurance costs, which have spiked around the province since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The insurance industry has increased premiums substantially on everyone. School divisions are no exceptions to any of that,” Davidson said.

“We do still have some work to do, but we’re certainly encouraged that the government did listen to a couple of those key cost drivers that were causing a lot of stress.”

The key now for Davidson and the SSBA is a long-term solution instead of a last-minute announcement on the provincial budget.

“What we really want to see is a sustainable, long-term, predictable investment in education when the provincial budget comes out in March,” Davidson said.