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So, what does the provincial budget actually mean for Edmonton Public Schools? The provincial government's February 24 announcement of an increase in operating grants will mean about $12 million dollars for Edmonton Public Schools for the 2000-2001 school year. In more tangible terms, that amount translates to about $36,000 for an average school with 300 students. With this increase, the district's budget will amount to approximately $499 million. But, as you know, our 206 schools are already budgeting for 2000-2001 based on a 2% increase, which was previously indicated by the government. The February 24 announcement essentially means an extra 1% for Edmonton Public Schools. While the increase does not begin to seriously address issues of class size, the state of our facilities and curriculum adjustments, I'm am encouraged by the extension of the Alberta School Improvement Initiative (AISI). AISI is expected to translate into an estimated $9 million for the school district in each of the next three years. AISI provides funding toward the pursuit of promising school and classroom practices designed to improve student achievement. It's our hope that once these practices prove successful, the province will commit ongoing funding. A $12.6 million - or 10% - increase for Early Childhood Services (ECS) across the province was also welcome news for the district. We're still waiting for details on how this additional funding will be distributed to school jurisdictions. The district is seeking more information on the extra $20 million that will be available for capital funding across the province. We're all concerned when it comes to the modernizing and upgrading of our aging inventory of buildings. The board and I intend to ensure this remains a priority.
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Crunching
Sometimes it's hard to understand what large budget numbers mean in day to day life. Here is a snapshot of how the provincial government's 3% increase in school operating grants applies to Edmonton Public Schools. * The 3% increase to all operating grants includes the 2% previously announced which is already built into our forecast revenues and allocations for 2000-2001. The 1% increment represents approximately $4 million in additional revenue. * On a per pupil basis, the 3% announced represents approximately $120. Through our 2000-2001 allocations, the district is already budgeting with $80. Therefore, the 1% increment will represent approximately $40 more per student to schools. |
Getting the word out:
Amiskwaciy Academy
In the last issue of The Compass, we introduced you to the leadership team at Amiskwaciy (pronounced a-misk-wa-chee) Academy, a new high school for students interested in pursuing their studies from an Aboriginal perspective. In this edition of the newsletter, we'll take a closer look at the school and its approach to learning.
Amiskwaciy Academy is the district's latest program of choice and expects to welcome between 600 and 800 students for its first year of operation. Dr. Phyllis Cardinal, the academy's Head Administrator, is excited about the new school and the learning opportunities it will offer. "An education at Amiskwaciy Academy will reflect the values and traditions of the Aboriginal community," says Cardinal. "By teaching our students about the Aboriginal cultural identity, we can help them to build a solid foundation for academic success."
To make this vision a reality, Cardinal is recruiting the best Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers available, who will receive training about Aboriginal cultural values and learning methods. The school will also bring in experts from the Aboriginal community to share their knowledge about Aboriginal arts, crafts and activities with staff and students.
The school will follow the Alberta Program of Studies and will offer a wide range of academic courses. "We have high expectations for our students to achieve excellence," says Cardinal, "but we will also offer them the tools, support and guidance they need to succeed." Cardinal believes in providing a challenging and supportive school environment in which all students can be successful.
Along with the core academic courses, the school will also offer a variety of optional courses and extracurricular activities that will increase students' knowledge of Aboriginal sports, arts, and the Cree language. "Although the language of instruction is going to be English, the school will encourage staff and students to speak Cree as much as possible," explains Cardinal.
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