At the May 28th Chinook's Edge School Division Board meeting some of the topics included the budget for next year, the education plan for next year and federal funding. Here are the notes provided by Chinook's Edge School Division.

Board approves budget and sets financial direction for 2024-2025 school year

The Chinook’s Edge Board of Trustees has approved a $140 million budget for the 2024-2025 school year, following a presentation from Treasurer Nadeem Altaf, and a Board discussion. The Board anticipates revenue next year of $139.5 million, with a budget deficit of $571,336. The division will use reserves to balance the budget, anticipating that reserves at the end of the 2024-2025 school year will be $4.7 million.

Chinook’s Edge has experienced increased enrolment over the past few years. The division anticipates an enrolment of approximately 11,300 students next year. Because the province responds to enrolment growth or declines in school divisions through a funding formula that provides a gradual increase or decline in funding over a three year period, divisions with enrolment growth see delayed increases in funding. Chinook’s Edge is responding to enrolment growth through the use of reserves.

The division has seen a decrease of $443,760, or 15.8 percent, in funding from the province in the Transportation portion of the budget. The Board will continue to advocate to the province on the challenges facing school divisions in this area. The budget will be filed with Alberta Education and posted to the division website by the end of May.

Trustees approve the Education Plan for the 2024-2025 school year

The Board approved the Education Plan for the 2024-2025 school year. Through the plan, the Board and division articulates its continued focus for work around three pillars: academic excellence, social emotional well-being and career connections. Within those pillars are three new strategic imperatives for the 2024-2025 school year, that developed after a planning process this year. The strategic imperatives centre on adaptive learning, complex needs and career connections.

Chinook’s Edge will apply for federal funding through Jordan’s Principle

The Board voted to approve Chinook’s Edge submitting an application for funding through Jordan’s Principle. According to the Government of Canada: “Under Jordan's Principle we are ensuring that First Nations children can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them, while we work with First Nations partners, provinces and territories to develop long-term approaches to help better address the unique needs of First Nations children.” The Board heard that between 5 and 40 students at each of the division’s schools may be eligible for funding. The division is working with cultural partners to prepare its application and to develop the structure for supporting Indigenous students in schools should funding be secured.

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