The Aspen View Public School Division's board of trustees passed the 2018-19 budget with a deficit of $376,337 May 24.
At the board meeting at Smith School, secretary-treasurer Amber Oko made her final report on the budget during discussions. She stated that total enrolment for the 2018-19 school year has declined by 80 students.
"We are expecting to have 2,687 students attend our schools this year," Oko said at the meeting. "The large decline in ECS students at our schools makes the loss equivalent to a 62 full-time equivalent decrease. It's a large decrease to overcome in terms of funding."
Oko added that they have a projected revenue of $41,812,690.
"That represents a decrease of $714,252," she said. "That's due to an enrolment decline, a decrease in infrastructure, maintenance and renewal funding of $144,937, as well as a loss of school generated funds worth $302,194."
While all that represents a deficit increase of $258,621 from the 2017-18 school year, Oko said that there is a piece of good news.
"Some of the losses were offset by some of the grants the division received," Oko continued in her report. "One grant received was the Innovation in First Nation Education at $105,100. We also received a Classroom Improvement Fund grant worth $391,000, a Nutrition Grant worth $252,000, as well as a supported amortization revenue."
As well, Oko added that budgeted operating expenses decreased by one per cent, year over year.
Superintendent Mark Francis said while they did have to make some spending cuts over the years, programs have been maintained at a very high level.
"Our cuts have not been in the classroom," Francis said. "There are always elements happening in the classroom based on numbers, but I think that the level of programming today would be the same has it was five to 10 years ago."
He added that there is some significant risks in approving this budget.
"One is that with it being at $376-thousand, and if we drop another $1-million in revenue next year, we have both amounts to overcome in the 2019-20 school year," Francis said.
Trustee Tom Mykytiuk made the motion to approve the budget as recommended. The board passed it unanimously.
