Webpaper 26

Page 1

Vol. 105 No. 26

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014

Box 40, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0

email: tip@sasktel.net

20 pages

$1.25

Bri n and ging n are ews a fo t r 10 o Bigg 5y ear ar s! Phone: 306-948-3344

www.biggarindependent.ca ndependent.ca

Prairie Spirit approves difÀcult budget “Even with a status quo budget, Prairie Spirit School Division is in a deficit position of $2.9 million,” Pavloff explained. To offset the nearly $3 million shortfall for 2014/15, the board made the unprecedented decision to apply reserve funds to operational costs and adjust spending in other operational areas. “Using reserve funds to balance our budget is not sustainable in the longterm,” Pavloff said. The budget includes operating expenses of over $111 million for the school division’s 45 schools in 28 communities surrounding the City of Saskatoon. This will be the ninth consecutive year of enrolment growth in P r a i r i e S p i r i t S ch o o l Division. It is expected that the school division will increase by over 130 students this fall for a total student enrolment of over 10,200. As a result of the increased student enrolment, an additional 8.55 full-time equivalent teaching positions will be added, in accordance with the division’s staffing formula. The 2014/15 budget maintains staffing at current levels with the hope that the provincial government will have an opportunity to review the funding formula and make the necessary adjustments for Prairie Spirit’s unique funding circumstances. The provincial government

determines the funding allocated to each school division in the province. In a recent meeting with local MLAs and Education Minister Don Morgan, it was noted that Prairie Spirit should be proud of its accomplishments. The Minister indicated that the Ministry would require time to determine if there is any way to assist the school division outside of the current funding structure. The board expressed its concern that an ongoing budget shortfall of this magnitude will impact every facet of the school division, including staffing, and will negatively impact student achievement. “We are very proud of our graduation rate of over 87 per cent and the high levels of achievement of our First Nations and Métis students,” Pavloff said. “We do not want to see students impacted as a result of budget constraints.” “We have strategically planned and allocated Reason to smile . . . Anton Ocampo, left, gets his diploma as they celebrated their final days of Grade 9 before they resources to support from St. Gabriel School Principal, Rick Garchinski, transition to High School life. (Independent Photo by Kevin students who need June 19. The smiles were huge for St. Gabriel students Brautigam) extra assistance,” said John Kuzbik, Director of Education. “We know that our commitment to improving adult learning has a positive impact S a s k a t o o n - R o s e t o w n - and while they can be the Government of Canada with valuable information on student achievement Biggar MP Kelly Block operated effectively by is providing support to regarding the availability results. These supports announced Friday that the public, training equips the HSF to develop a of AEDs located in their will be in jeopardy if our Biggar will become safer people with the knowledge national database that jurisdictions. funding will not allow us to with the approval of funding and skills to confidently will track AEDs installed This initiative is funded sustain these programs.” for an Automated External use these devices and to in recreational arenas. The by the Public Health Although the provincial database is intended to Defibrillator (AED) for the deliver quick CPR. Agency of Canada and g overnment provided Jubilee Stadium in Biggar, “Each year, up to 40,000 provide local Emergency carried out by the Heart some additional funds thanks to a partnership Canadians experience Medical Services (EMS) and Stroke Foundation. to Prairie Spirit in the between the Public Health sudden cardiac arrest. As new budget, the funding Agency of Canada and many as 85 per cent occur increase does not cover the Heart and Stroke in public places or at home,” the annual increases in Foundation (HSF). said Bobbe Wood, President operational expenses, even This is in addition to of the Heart and Stroke with a “status quo” budget. the thousands of other Foundation. “Without These increases include AEDs being installed in rapid and appropriate salary increments, new recreational arenas across treatment, most cardiac agreements and utility the country. arrests will result in death. increases. “ O u r g o v e r n m e n t i s Access to early CPR and In addition, the Ministry committed to protecting defibrillation, preferably requires all school divisions the health and safety within the first one to to find efficiencies in o f C a n a d i a n s w h i l e three minutes after cardiac their general operating encouraging active and arrest, increases chances of budget. Kuzbik reported healthy lifestyles,” explained survival by as much as 75 t h a t P r a i r i e S p i r i t ’s Block. “We are well on per cent.” efficiency reduction was our way to ensuring all At this time, the more than $400,000 and recreational arenas across government estimates another effi ciency factor is Canada are equipped with that 2,000 AEDs will be expected to be included in these lifesaving devices.” installed by 2016. Prime the 2015/16 funding from D e f i b r i l l a t o r s a r e Minister Stephen Harper, electronic devices used to announced the four-year Crunch time . . . Biggar Central School student Destiny Hammel gets in a bit more the Ministry. In fact, the “per student” restart a person’s heart program in February study last week as final exams were written. It’s a time to fret and worry, but for most funding in Prairie Spirit that has stopped beating. 2013. students, they just get on with it, knuckle down and get it done. (Independent Photo by …See Prairie Spirit pg 16 They are safe, easy-to-use, Through this initiative, Kevin Brautigam) The 2014/15 budget for Prairie Spirit School Division is being called difficult and frustrating by the Board of Education.

Larry Pavloff, Board Chair, said this is the most challenging budget the Prairie Spirit Board of Education has ever faced.

The board approved the school division’s 2014/15 budget at its regular meeting on Monday, June 16.

Gov’t of Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation install AEDs in local recreational arenas


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