The Lethbridge School Division is sharing its thoughts on the 2025 Alberta Budget.
According to officials with the division, Alberta Education has announced that funding will be provided based on a two-year average adjusted enrolment method. This method weighs current enrolment at 30 per cent and next year’s enrolment at 70 per cent.
Division board chair Christine Light says this change is a step in the right direction, adding the Board has advocated for every student in the system to be fully funded each year.
“It is concerning [that] the base grant, which accounts for 55 per cent of the division’s funding, will not see a grant rate increase,” says Light.
“This is particularly concerning due to inflationary pressures on all costs to provide educational services and support to our students.”
However, the division explains that the budget does provide funding rate increases for learning support grants of 2.32 per cent and increased funding for classroom complexity. These grants make up approximately 11 per cent of the division’s funding.
“We gladly welcome the increases in these grants, which are used to provide specialized learning support to our students,” says Light.
Associate superintendent Christine Lee says Budget 2025 does provide a boost to the division in a few areas. Lee welcomes the three per cent increase to the operations and maintenance grant, along with an increase of two per cent for transportation.
“We’re pleased to see the recognition of rising technology costs in this year’s budget. These grant rate increases will put some extra funds into the system,” says Lee.
“Overall, funding is still not keeping pace with the rising costs of providing services and maintaining facilities to support student learning.”
Additionally, the division says it is pleased to see investments in school infrastructure.
Light notes the division has requested several capital projects, like the modernization of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and the construction of new schools, including a high school and elementary school in west Lethbridge. “We’re hopeful to receive funding that puts these vital projects on the path to construction,” adds Lee.
In mid-March, the Division will have more clarity on the impacts of the provincial budget, when the funding profile is released. The profile outlines the specific budgeted amounts the division will receive from Alberta Education for the 2025/2026 school year.
