Budget offers little in new funding, but opportunities for new construction in Alberta schools. Northern Lights officials say they are pleased that funding wasn't reduced.
Last week's unveiling of the province's budget plans for the year were seen as good news by trustees with Northern Lights Public Schools. The budget numbers add funds for capital projects across the province, including within the Northern Lights boundaries.
Alberta Education is proposing a $9.6 billion budget foor 2017/18, which includes $8.2 billion in consolidated operating expenses including staffing and wages, as well as $1.4 billion in capital consolidated commitments.
The $1.4 billion in school capital funding will go toward the construction of new schools, modernizations of existing schools and capital maintenance.
The budget includes more than $500 million for 26 new infrastructure projects across the province, building new schools and modernizing others The modernization projects in include work at the Bonnyville Centralized High School - a project that is at the top of the Northern Lights Public School's three-year capital plan.
At Wednesday afternoon's Northern Lights public meeting at the Bonnyville head office, vice-chairperson Arlene Hrynyk spoke about the new provincial budget, and how it will benefit area schools.
“Even though education may not receive a surplus of additional funding, the numbers didn’ t drop," she said. "This is great news in a time of economic stress throughout the province.”
Board members also approved the division's three-year capital plan at the meeting. The plan is the division's 'wish list' of projects they require government funding and approval for. Included on the plan is a modernization project at Ecole Plamondon and the need for a new elementary school in Lac La Biche to replace Vera M. Welsh.
